SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks renew their territorial and recent playoff rivalry Wednesday to open the 2016-17 NHL season.For the Sharks, its the first step in defense of their first Western Conference title while the Kings hope to spoil the home opener against the team that ended their season during a five-game first-round playoff series last spring.Were going to have a little bit of a target on our back, especially in the Western Conference having won it last year, San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. And were going to get everyones best game.San Jose hopes to start off on the right foot at the Shark Tank where the team was only 18-20-3 last season. And the only game Los Angeles won in the playoffs last season came in San Jose.We were really exposed in the playoffs, Kings general manager Dean Lombardi told NHL.com. I also think we had some mental issues in terms of having dealt with success, and a good punch in the nose like we got in the playoffs hopefully woke us all up.The game will mark the San Jose debut of two newcomers -- left winger Mikkel Boedker and defenseman David Schlemko, who each signed four-year contracts on the first day of free agency. Boedker joins center Logan Couture and right winger Joonas Donskoi on the teams second forward line while Schlemko will partner with Brenden Dillon to give the Sharks a mobile defense.Its impressive what we were able to do this summer -- keep everyone, add a couple key pieces -- I think thats good for chemistry, Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said.For the record, San Jose did have three departures, all of whom were not part of their long-term plans. Forward Nick Spaling, defenseman Roman Polak and goalie James Reimer, all acquired at the trade deadline, moved on while 38-year-old Dainius Zubrus contemplates retirement.Conversely, the Sharks have a number of young players knocking on the door to give the franchise the best depth its enjoyed in its 26th season. Twenty-year-old Timo Meier, the ninth pick in 2015, looked to crack the deep group of forwards until he was diagnosed with mononucleosis late last month. He must avoid contact for approximately three more weeks, and will start his pro career with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.In addition, Swedish winger Marcus Sorensen, 24, was a free-agent signing in the offseason, and hell start in the minors, too, despite showing flashes of skill and speed in the preseason.For now, Tomas Hertl will return to left wing alongside top-liners Joe Thornton and captain Joe Pavelski. Chris Tierney will center Patrick Marleau and Joel Ward on a third line and it some combination of Tommy Wingels, Matt Nieto, Melker Karlsson and Micheal Haley will comprise a fourth group.Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Braun form San Joses top shutdown pair on defense while veteran Paul Martin returns to support the creativity of partner Brent Burns, a Norris Trophy finalists with a franchise blue line record 27 goals and 75 points last season.You need quality players who are willing to accept roles in the depth of your lineup, and take pride in those roles, DeBoer said. The one team that was deeper than us was the team that beat us -- Pittsburgh.The Kings will feature a new look on their top line, the result of departure, suspension and injury. Newly anointed captain Anze Kopitar will center stripped captain Dustin Brown and Devin Setoguchi, who survived a tryout invite to camp to make the team and resurrect a career that got sidetracked due to substance abuse.Im excited for him, Kings coach Darryl Sutter told the teams website of the one-time Shark. I like to see guys like that bounce back. ... For me, it was no different evaluating him than it was players that we needed to be better than they were last year.Los Angeles is without scoring winger Marian Gaborik, who sustained a broken foot during the World Cup of Hockey tournament. Forward Tanner Pearson is suspended for the first two regular-season games for a preseason infraction, and winger Milan Lucic left the team via free agency.The Kings figure to line up Teddy Purcell-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli, Dwight King-Nic Dowd-Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford-Andy Andreoff-Jordan Nolan up front with Jake Muzzin-Drew Doughty, Brayden McNabb-Alec Martinez, Derek Forbort-Matt Greene as the defense pairs.Jonathan Quick will tend the Los Angeles net with former King Martin Jones in goal for San Jose. Where Can Buy Cheap Jerseys . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. What is the best place to buy Cheap Jerseys . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. https://www.wheretobuycheapjerseys.com/ . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. What is a good website to buy sports jerseys . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. What is the best place to buy knockoff jerseys . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.Michael van Gerwen overcame a huge scare against Simon Whitlock as he began his European Championship title defence with a narrow 6-5 win on Friday, but world champion Gary Anderson was whitewashed by James Wade at the Ethias Arena in Hasselt, Belgium. The Dutch star, who has claimed the title for the past two years, saw his bid to complete a treble of wins threatened when Australian ace Whitlock - the 2012 champion - dominated their first-round clash.After sharing the opening four legs, Whitlock pulled out to lead 4-2 with the aid of a show-stopping 170 checkout and then edged to the brink of victory at 5-3. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. Van Gerwen, though, finished double 16 and 87 to force a decider, with Whitlock missing double 15 for the match on a 150 checkout to allow the world No 1 back in to finally secure the win.Simon has been playing well recently and he did again tonight, said Van Gerwen, who now plays Gerwyn Price in Saturdays second round.When he got ahead of me I knew I had to come back and I did that. I played well after the first few legs and Im feeling fine - it doesnt matter how you win as long as you win.To win the triple in this event would be fantastic but Im only in the last 16 and I cant look any further than that. James Wade crushed reigning world champion Gary Anderson Price had earlier secured his second round spot with a 6-4 win over Daryl Gurney but world champion Gary Anderson crashed out as he lost 6-0 to No 4 seed James Wade, who hit six doubles from eight attempts in a ruthless display which included finishes of 102 and 100.Im happy to win but its horrible to see another player having an off-night like that, said Wade.Wade now faces former World Youth Champion Max Hopp in a tasty second-round tie, with the 20-year-old German overcoming Dutchman Benito van de Pas 6-4.Phil Taylor averaged a brilliant 109.28 as he began his bid to win a fifth European Championship with a 6-3 defeat of Alan Norris.Taylor now meets Joe Cullen, who celebrated his debut with a 6-2 win over emerging star Chris Dobey, who had to borrow a set of darts from Michael Smith after his luggage failed to arrive in Belgium. Phil Taylor averaged a brilliant 109.dddddddddddd28 against Alan Norris. (Picture courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC) Austrian star Mensur Suljovic produced a brilliant display to see off Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 6-1, averaging an impressive 104.26 and hitting six doubles from eight attempts as he moved through to face Ian White.Suljovic will now play Ian White, whose bid to add to the three ranking victories he has claimed so far in 2016 began with a 6-2 defeat of Terry Jenkins, who was punished for 12 missed darts at doubles during the contest.Number three seed Peter Wright edged out Justin Pipe 6-5 in a thriller, coming back from 5-4 down to win the final two legs as he moved through to face Cristo Reyes.Spains Reyes reached the second round in Hasselt for the second successive year, defeating world No 7 Robert Thornton 6-4, despite the Scot hitting five 180s. Van Gerwens major milestones Michael van Gerwens milestones from his 18 major ranking titles Jelle Klaasen held off Steve Wests fightback from 5-0 down before claiming a 6-3 victory to move through to a second-round meeting with Stephen Bunting.Belgian hopes in the European Championship were ended on the opening night as No 5 seed Kim Huybrechts lost out 6-3 to debutant James Wilson who now plays Mervyn King, after he battled to a 6-4 win over South Africas Devon Petersen in their first-round contest.Australias Kyle Anderson sent No 6 seed Dave Chisnall packing as he celebrated his debut with a 6-3 win.Saturdays second round games will be followed on Sunday by the quarter-finals in the afternoon session and the semi-finals and final in the evening session. Saturday October 29: Second Round - Best of 19 legs Afternoon SessionKyle Anderson v James RichardsonMensur Suljovic v Ian WhitePeter Wright v Cristo ReyesJames Wilson v Mervyn KingEvening SessionJelle Klaasen v Stephen BuntingPhil Taylor v Joe CullenJames Wade v Max HoppMichael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price Watch the Grand Slam of Darts live on Sky Sports from November 12. Also See: MVG targets European treble Whitlock: Im coming, MVG Best of the World Grand Prix Van Gerwens major milestones ' ' '