1st-round preview: Sharks hunting for redemption against Kings

The San Jose Sharks are back in the Stanley Cup playoffs after a one-year hiatus, and have their sights set on shaking off the ghost of the great 2014 collapse.

That year, of course, they blew a 3-0 first-round series lead to the Los Angeles Kings, whom they're matched up against this time around.

San Jose took the regular-season series with a record of 3-1-1, but will that success carry over to the postseason?

Here's what you need to know before the puck drops:

Tale of the tape

Key players

Joe Thornton

While Jaromir Jagr continues to amaze with his longevity, 37-year-old Joe Thornton remains at the top of his game, emerging as a dark horse Hart Trophy candidate for the Sharks this season.

Thornton recorded 19 goals and 63 assists in all 82 games, finishing in a tie for fourth in NHL scoring with Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, and three points behind the defenseman for the league lead in assists.

Jettisoned as team captain following the dramatic collapse of 2014 in favor of Joe Pavelski, who began donning the "C" this season, Thornton remains in many ways the chum that stirs the waters for these Sharks.

Don't believe the narrative that Thornton doesn't bring it in the postseason, either. He ranks 13th among all active NHL players in career playoff points with 100 through 132 games.

Drew Doughty

For some, the Los Angeles defenseman put himself in position to unseat Karlsson as the Norris Trophy winner this year. While the playoffs bear no weight in terms of voting on the award, it's here that Drew Doughty can demonstrate his impact to a wider audience.

Doughty didn't blow anyone away offensively this season, scoring 14 goals and adding 37 assists, which is eight points off his career high set in 2009-10. Among players at his position with at least 1,000 minutes played, however, he ranked first with a Corsi rating of 58.9 during five-on-five play. Only teammates Tyler Toffoli (59.4) and Milan Lucic (59.3) boasted better numbers.

He also posted the best single-season on-ice shot attempt differential of the past decade.

(Courtesy: r/hockey)

In short, Doughty drives possession and is a force at his own end. Shutting down the Sharks begins with him.

Martin Jones and James Reimer

Not always a position of strength for the Sharks, head coach Pete DeBoer now has a luxury - or rather a difficult decision to make - in a 1A-1B situation heading into the playoffs.

General manager Doug Wilson sent a first-round pick to Boston to secure Martin Jones' rights, and the gamble has paid off.

• Jones: 65 GP, 37-23-4, .918 SV%, six shutouts

As added insurance, Wilson traded for James Reimer prior to the deadline. The former Maple Leaf has been lights out since arriving in San Jose.

• Reimer: 8 GP, 6-2-0, .938 SV%, three shutouts

Jones will start Game 1, while Reimer will be ready and able if called upon. The Sharks will need either to be at the top of their games to match Jonathan Quick, who's been the star of this dance before, at the other end of the ice.

Schedule

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