First Place at Stake Against Sharks

As improbable as it might have sounded four months ago, when their only thought was digging out of the Western Conference cellar, the Kings will take over the Pacific Division lead if they defeat the San Jose Sharks today.

Both teams would have 85 points, but the Kings would hold the upper hand because they have played one fewer game.

“As long as that’s where we are in April, it would feel great,” Coach Andy Murray said Friday. “If it comes the end of the season and we’re first in our division, that would be a major feat. But I’m just so scared of everybody behind us that I still have a hard time looking at it that way....

“But at the end of the regular season, if we’re first in our division, it would be great. The run we’re on right now is great. We can’t downplay it, and, obviously, we’ve got to keep it up. But our guys have done some great things.”

The Kings, 27-8-5-2 since Dec. 8, have trimmed 12 points from the Sharks’ lead during their surge, the Sharks going 23-16-3 during the same period.

After today, the Kings open a four-game trip Sunday at Phoenix and play six of their last 11 games on the road. The Sharks return to San Jose tonight, open a six-game home stand Tuesday against the Dallas Stars and play seven of their last 10 at home, including their regular-season finale April 13 against the Kings.

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Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL leader in goals-against average and second in save percentage, is enjoying one of the best seasons of his great career, but he posted mediocre numbers against the Kings.

In splitting four starts against the Kings, including Thursday night’s 3-1 loss at Staples Center, the Avalanche goaltender had a 3.26 GAA and .859 save percentage. Against the rest of the league, his GAA is 1.82, his save percentage .930.

“We wouldn’t look at it that way,” Murray said. “We would think that he’s been pretty good against us and that we’ve made him look bad.”

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TODAY

vs. San Jose, 1

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 35-22-9-4, Sharks 37-23-8-3.

Record vs. Sharks--3-0.

Update--Winners of five consecutive games and six of seven, the Kings are 13 games above .500 for the first time since the 1990-91 season, when they finished with a 46-24-10 record and won their only division championship.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.

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Jerry Crowe