Kings plunge into the Shark Tank

Sports Columnist

Dec. 9, 2009 1:18 PM PT

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Erik Ersberg will start in goal for the Kings tonight against the Pacific Division-leading Sharks at HP Pavilion, better known as the Shark Tank and one of the NHL’s loudest arenas.

The Kings’ scratches will be defenseman Davis Drewiske and forward/defenseman Peter Harrold.

Ersberg hasn’t started a game since Nov. 11, when he made 22 saves in a 5-2 victory at Carolina. He relieved Jonathan Quick on Nov. 13 in a 7-0 loss at Atlanta. Quick is scheduled to start Thursday, when the Kings return home to face Phoenix.

The Kings, who have earned standings points in five straight games and six of the last seven, have moved within four points of the Sharks, who are 1-1-1 so far on a five-game home stand.

We’ll have more later from the Shark Tank at www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Helene Elliott in San Jose

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Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.