By Bobby Berger
The Los Angeles Kings won a hard fought game with the San Jose Sharks last night 3-2. The surprising Sharks have been at the top of the Western Conference for much the season, however the win allowed the Kings to vault over the Sharks into first place. Asa result the mood should have been of extreme jubilation in the locker room, but instead the Kings waited with baited breath about news on the severity of the injury to star center amd MVP candidate Jack Eichel. Eichel left the game in the first period after already collecting an assist in extreme pain. "We all know how tough Eichman is, so when you saw that you knew something wasn't right," said assistan captain Jared Cowan.
After the game it was revealed that the injury was bad, but not as bad as had originally been though. Eichel is likely to miss 1-2 weeks. The more concerning part for the Kings are the upcoming opponents during that stretch. In a hotly contested West, the Kings will have to face the red hot Calgary Flames, and their nemesis the San Jose Sharks in back to back tilts. Both teams are nipping at their heels in the standings.
The Kings will rely heavily on Jared McCann and youngster Noah Ostlund during Eichel's absence. "We know who we are and what we are capable of, so it is next man up. This is a brotherhood and we all trust each other. There should be no drop off in our play," said McCann about the lineup moving forward. The Kings have a practice day today before their tangle with the Flames.
9/4/2026 - 272 words
