(My Sportsbook) - San Jose head coach Darryl Sutter recently downplayed his team's slow beginning. Feeling that the Sharks were on the verge of breaking out, Sutter declared that their season would begin once they got back to .500.

Well after another win like the one San Jose posted on Tuesday versus the Los Angeles Kings, the Pacific Division better be on notice that the Sharks are back and ready to defend their title.

Rookie Lynn Loyns scored the first two goals of his NHL career to propel the Sharks past the Kings, 5-2, and in the process moved San Jose one-game closer to the all important break-even point (5-6-0-1).

"It's just a continuation of our road trip," Sutter said. "We got a contribution from everybody. Our total focus is to get our team back to .500, contribution from everybody. Our total focus is to get our team back to .500, and we'll go from there, because November is a real tough month for us."

Mike Rathje also added two goals and Todd Harvey scored for San Jose, which Mike Rathje also added two goals and Todd Harvey scored for San Jose, which picked up wins in back-to-back games for the first time this season. However, it was the gritty play of the former Canadian National Baseball Team player that stole the show.

"My expectation coming into training camp was to press people and show them what I can do," said Loyns. "Things just keep bouncing my way now. Things are working out great now, and I just want to stick around as long as I can."

The 21-year-old left wing netted his first score at 10:42 of the opening period to square the game at 1-1. Vincent Damphousse dropped the puck off for Loyns in the left circle and the rookie whipped a wrister at LA netminder Felix Potvin. The goaltender stopped the initial shot, but Loyns was there to put his own rebound in the net.

"I saw Vinnie pick up the puck and I was yelling from about the red line in," said Loyns. "It was a perfect pass, but the D-man blocked it. I just kept going and poked it in."

Less than four minutes later the undrafted winger had his second career goal, this one while he was flat on his stomach in front of the net as he stretched himself out to push the puck past Potvin.

"I had a really good view of it, because I was lying there in front of it," Loyns said. "I said, 'I can't believe it went in.' It was just a great feeling."

The last time an NHL player tallied multiple times in the first game he actually scored an NHL goal was October 17, 2002 when the St. Louis Blues Eric Boguniecki netted two against Dallas. Ironically Boguniecki lit the lamp twice on Tuesday night.

"Any time you can help the team, with energy or goals, it's nice," said Loyns. "I knew deep down that if I played well I would have a chance to stick around. It's been great so far and I just want to stay some more."

WHAT'S NEXT

The Sharks will continue their four-game homestand against Nashville on Thursday, then wrap things versus Minnesota and the Rangers.