Sharks 3, Kings 1

Maddeningly inconsistent as of late, the Sharks were finally able to pull together a 60-minute effort, defeating the Los Angeles Kings in the second game of a home-and-home against LA, after dropping game one 5-2 at home. The Sharks are once again establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the road. Their six wins away from San Jose are tied with the Red Wings for the league lead. However, their pattern of turning in lackluster efforts at the Tank seems to have carried on from last season as well, as their lone home win is matched in futility only by the Thrashers, Canucks and Coyotes.

Still, the Sharks have reclaimed the Pacific Division lead after briefly relinquishing it to the Kings following Friday night's loss. However, with a measly three points separating the Sharks from the fifth-place Coyotes, the month of November, in which San Jose will play 11 games against divisional opponents, may be the defining portion of the season for the entire Pacific.

As for Saturday night's win, a strong shift late in the third period by the struggling Jonathan Cheechoo, in which the Sharks forward blocked an Alexander Frolov shot, then advanced the puck up ice before one-timing a pass from Joe Thornton capped a solid 3-1 victory over San Jose's rivals to the south. Jeremy Roenick was also able to stick one to his former team, netting his 499th career goal in the second period, which proved to be the game-winner. Speaking of players exacting revenge on their ex-teams, former Shark Brad Stuart scored the lone Los Angeles goal, which tied the game in the first after Joe Pavelski gave San Jose a 1-0 lead with his power-play goal.