Stadium Series more than spectacle

— -- SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The backdrop promises to be idyllic. Clear skies, bright lights and a gleaming, state-of-the-art arena nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. A Saturday night of hockey in Northern California seems awfully inviting, perhaps even to the casual sports fan enchanted by the sheer spectacle of the event.

But Saturday's match between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings at Levi's Stadium promises to be much more than that.

For all the novelty and hype that surrounds what has become one of the NHL's signature events, this outdoor game offers something even better than great weather, picturesque scenery and a sellout crowd of more than 69,000.

This game has meaning.

Separated by just two points in the standings, the Sharks and Kings are at a critical juncture in their respective seasons. And though they are neck-and-neck in a fight for that last wild-card spot in the Western Conference, their recent trajectories have been markedly dissimilar.

The Kings, following a sluggish start that persisted for much longer than any Stanley Cup "hangover" could justify, have rattled off six straight wins heading into Saturday's action.

Though they have been dogged by inconsistency, injuries and one particularly notable indefinite suspension -- defenseman Slava Voynov is facing trial on felony domestic violence charges next month -- the Kings have been scorching hot as of late, regaining the type of swagger that was on display when they handily dispatched the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

The Kings are finally starting to resemble that dominant team that has won two Stanley Cup titles in the past three seasons -- a feat that many believe has both cultivated and revived interest in hockey in Southern California.

Meanwhile, the Sharks enter Saturday's match after a much rockier stretch. Thanks to a two-goal performance from Andrew Desjardins, the Sharks knocked off the Dallas Stars Thursday night to gain some much-needed traction heading into their much-anticipated hosting duties this weekend.

But prior to Thursday's win, the Sharks had dropped five of their previous six games, and they surrendered 26 goals during that span.

Coach Todd McLellan challenged his team to be better than just mediocre.

"We can't give ourselves permission to be the average," McLellan said after the team's practice Friday. "We're better than average and we've got to play that way."

The term "identity crisis" seems a bit cliché, if not oversimplified for the issues facing this team. Veteran center Joe Thornton was stripped of his captaincy before the season began. General manager Doug Wilson called his club a "tomorrow team." As the season wore on, the Sharks seemed to rise to the occasion against elite competition, yet they consistently crumble against weaker foes.

There has been little evidence that this is a team destined for a deep postseason run, and the club is acutely aware of the glaring deficiencies.

"Up and down, inconsistent. Very good at times. Very poor at times," Sharks center Logan Couture said of the team's turbulent season. "That's pretty much how you explain it. We need to win. We know where we are in the standings, we know where they are in the standings. I think it's more than just a hockey game. It's a massive hockey game for our team when it comes to making a push for the playoffs."

And all that pertains to the season at hand. You want a more intimate glimpse into the sort of dysfunction and heartbreak the Sharks and their loyal fan base have endured in recent years? All you have to do is bring up what happened last spring.

Against the Kings, of all teams.

After building a cushy 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Sharks ended up imploding, losing four straight games to the Kings in utterly stunning fashion.

It was nothing short of an absolute disaster.

"Our year started when we lost Game 7," McLellan said of that pivotal moment for the franchise.

Perhaps that implosion against the Kings still lurks within the team's collective psyche, a stinging reminder of all that went wrong last season and the domino of changes it brought forth.

Of course, this makes the enmity between the two teams that much more visceral.

"Obviously with them coming back in the series last year and winning two Stanley Cups [since 2012], you always want to knock off the team on top and right now that's them," said Sharks forward Tommy Wingels. "I think every game we play them, I think we've developed a dislike for each other. But that's good. That's good for the rivalry. It's good for Sharks versus Kings and it's good for the fans, so we look forward to embracing it tomorrow night."

And though the rivalry has been lopsided in recent years, the hostility is not felt by the Sharks alone.

"I think first of all, to develop this kind of rivalry you've gotta play each other in the playoffs a few times, which we did. We've had some pretty good battles, so that obviously added fuel to the fire," said Kings center Anze Kopitar. "It just seems every time we meet each other, play each other, it's [a] pretty physical, pretty intense and emotional game. I'm sure it's not going to be any different tomorrow."

Saturday's game presents a difficult challenge for both teams: On one hand, players want to soak in the experience and appreciate the event in all of its pomp and glory, but these are critical points at stake in the standings with very real implications for both clubs' postseason hopes.

This isn't just a snazzy production. This game has meaning.

"Today was a day for the families," Couture said. "Tomorrow is a day for this hockey team to go out and win."