Sharks shutting it down

San Jose, with its eight-game winning streak, has pulled 10 points clear of the Kings atop the Western Conference. The Kings have fared well against the Sharks this season, with a 2-0-1 record, and they have scored 12 goals in their three games against San Jose.

But since the Kings last played San Jose, the Sharks haven’t given up much. The Kings beat the Sharks 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 9. In San Jose’s 10 games since then, the Sharks have not once allowed more than two goals in regularion. San Jose has allowed 14 goals during its 8-0 run.

MURRAY: “The last time we went in there, we scored some goals, and that’s not necessarily going to be the scenario every time you play in that building. They’re not very generous with other teams, on the scoring side of it. The competition, that, to me, is a mindset going into the game. You know it’s going to be a heavy game. You’ve got big players that you’re playing against, and certainly one of the top lines, if not the top line in the game, the way they’re playing right now.

“Everything that you do against them has got to be from the right side of the puck. You just can’t give them that opportunity to get their game and confidence going against you. Staying above it is going to be important. Also, we come from the emotional and mental side of it, knowing that if you play well, and play with structure and play your system, we’re getting to the point now where we can come away with a couple of points. That’s a great feeling for a young group of guys.”