Sharks rout Kings 5-1 in National Hockey League opener

San Jose routed the Kings 4-0 and chased Quick from last year’s season opener, spoiling Los Angeles’ banner-raising ceremony for its second Stanley Cup title in three years.

Nikolay Goldobin is probably the biggest surprise to get cut and sent to the Barracuda.

The Kings expect to sell out all 41 regular-season games at Staples Center, a team official said, continuing a sellout streak that began on December. 3, 2011.

While all those were highlights of Wednesday’s win, the special teams play stood out as particularly impressive.

As is common when these teams get together there was a few ugliness, but the two nastiest plays that the league may look at came on questionable hits by Los Angeles. After the Kings scored their only goal less than two minutes into the game, surprise surprise, Mike Brown and Kyle Clifford fought off the ensuing face off. Fighting just for fighting. San Jose killed off all six of its penalties and converted 2 of 8 power plays.

I don t think L.A.is the type of team that runs around. “We played a real solid road (match) in here”. Thornton picked it up from there and on a 3-on-1, beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick with a wrist shot high to the blocker side with 10:17 to go in the opening period. I think they just didn’t want to send him back to juniors a year ago so they only had one option since he was too young for the AHL.

It was also DeBoer’s first taste of the rivalry between the Sharks and Kings, who play each other again on October. 22 at SAP Center.

Logan Couture seemed to be involved in altercations with the Kings. Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl and rookie Joonas Donskoi added one goal each. San Jose then dealt a first-round pick and a prospect to Boston for former Kings backup Martin Jones.

Pavelski definitely deserves credit for leading by example in the third period. But his 1.99 goals against average gives San Jose the confidence he can be the No. 1 goalie the team needs.

The printed Royal Reign game program has been replaced by the custom microsite, LA Kings Edition, which focus on upcoming games and opponents and provide player profiles. With his long history of suspensions, it will be hard for the Sharks to count on Torres even when he does return in January.

A lot of familiar names scored goals, led by the first of the season from newly appointed captain Joe Pavelski, who also had two assists.

Pavelski, 31, says he’ll demand a lot from his teammates, and adds the responsibilities won’t become a distraction for his personal game. San Jose was two for seven on the power play, didn’t allow a power play goal, especially stopping a five on three situation in the third period for almost a minute and a half.

While Brown did his best to protect the squad, he said the Sharks need a commitment to team toughness throughout the year with extra muscle in the division.