Kings after one period: Kings 1, Sharks 0

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The Kings played a solid first period and scored the only goal. Alexander Frolov had the puck behind the net and threw it out into the high slot. Michal Handzus had a swipe at it and was frustrated, but the puck came loose to Wayne Simmonds, whose backhander eluded Evgeni Nabokov at 5:49 for his first goal of the season.

That line found itself matched against the Dany Heatley-Joe Thornton-Devin Setoguchi line quite often in the first period

The Sharks outshot the Kings, 14-10, and tested goaltender Jonathan Quick a few times. He was far sharper than he was in the opener against Phoenix, when he allowed six goals on 30 shots.

San Jose’s Ryane Clowe was assessed a roughing penalty at the 20-minute mark for starting a scrum as the whistle blew. The Kings’ power play was the only bright opener in their first game--they were three for four with the man advantage against Phoenix--so they had that to look forward to as they prepared for the second period.

More from Staples Center later. -- Helene Elliott