SAN JOSE – Two games into an 82-game season have determined one thing: The San Jose Sharks are yet to be in mid-season form.
All-Star goaltender Martin Jones was pulled 14:05 into the second period of Saturday night’s game as the Sharks fell to the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 at sold-out SAP Center.
A series of shots from wide angles and an unintentional own goal led to an early exit for Jones.
The Sharks do not play again until Thursday night, home against Buffalo, leaving Jones five days to wait for another chance at a first win for the campaign.
The Vegas Golden Knights entered the NHL this week, giving the Pacific Division an eight-team arrangement for the first time. While the Golden Knights are 2-0 with four points off two road games, San Jose sits alone in newly-dubbed eighth spot with no points.
San Jose was able to record one goal against King goaltender Jonathan Quick.
Down 1-0 due to a Daniel Brown snapshot from the bottom of the right circle at 5:08, the Sharks made it 1-1 with an even-strength tally.  Shark Brenden Dillon sent a high shot from the left point toward the Kings net. Mikkel Boedker moved into position at the edge of the crease and deftly redirected Dillon’s offering past Quick and into the net at 6:14.
The clubs appeared headed to the lockerrooms even before the Kings took advantage of a late turnover to earn a 2-1 lead. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns controlled the puck in the San Jose zone before flicking it over the blueline. King defenseman Jake Muzzin stole the puck, advanced it to Anze Kopitar and the captain found the inside of the left post by Jones with 7.8 seconds left in the period.
Kopitar netted his second goal of the night 12:07 into the second period when his shot from the left corner was reflected past Jones’ right shoulder. King Nick Shore was credited with his first goal of the year when his offering was repelled by the defense but winger Melker Karlsson inadvertently pulled the puck into the open net for the game’s final goal.
Los Angeles finished with a 37-25 edge in shots on net.
