What we learned from the Kings’ 5-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks

Some brief takeaways as the Kings take off on their all-too-brief Christmas break, a three-day interruption of the NHL schedule.

Holiday trap game, again

Haven’t we heard this before?

In fact, yes.

That would be last season when the Kings also lost their last game before the break, at home, blowing a late lead and falling to Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary Flames in overtime.

This time, they watched a 3-1 lead vanish and gave up four straight goals to the Sharks and lost in regulation at Staples Center.

Maybe next season the schedule makers can keep them on the road in the days before the holiday break.

Goal glut … by the opposition

One of the more impressive aspects of the first 2 1/2 months of the season was their overall defensive structure. The Kings allowed five goals to the Sharks in their season opener on Oct. 7.

They went from Oct. 7 until Dec. 14 before allowing five goals in a loss to the Ottawa Senators. Now they’ve given up five goals in three of their last four games.

“These last couple of games we’ve given up a lot of goals, and that’s not our type of hockey,” said Kings forward Tyler Toffoli, who scored twice.

The line of Milan Lucic-Anze Kopitar-Marian Gaborik was a combined minus-four on Tuesday night. Kopitar is minus-six in his last two games, the first time he has had back-to-back minus games this season. He only had two minus games before Saturday’s loss in Toronto.

Two not-so-ordinary Joes

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter, in his postgame chat with reporters, referenced the game within a game.

“Big guys vs. the big guys,” he said.

The two Joes, Pavelski and Thornton, won that category for the Sharks, combining for six points. Pavelski’s two power-play goals sparked the comeback with Thornton setting up his go-ahead goal at 7:38 of the third period.

Pavelski and Thornton are each on five-game point streaks.

“You see what kind of game they play: They hold you,” Pavelski said afterward. “They step in your way. They play a tough game. You’ve got to just keep fighting through it and stay with it.”

Twitter: @reallisa