San Jose at Los Angeles

San Jose finished with a better goal differential than the Kings and has a sizzling (and league-best) 28-10-3 road record. San Jose has great talent and balance, fourth in the NHL in goals scored, third on the power play and #10 in goals allowed. Goalie Martin Jones is a former L.A. King and went 37-23-4 with six shutouts and a 2.27 goals-against average in his first season as a starter. Los Angeles is home but not at full strength, with Marian Gaborik possibly back but sidelined for two months with a knee injury. Defensemen Alec Martinez sat out the final week of the regular season with an undisclosed ailment and is still not ready, while Matt Greene has not played since October 13 because of a shoulder ailment that required surgery in December. The Sharks are 25-10 in their last 35 road games. San Jose went 3-1-1 in the season series, winning both visits to Los Angeles. The wagering value is on the visitors to win, or lose by one goal in this even battle. Take San Jose on the puckline in game one.