Kings–Sharks rivalry

The Kings–Sharks rivalry is a National Hockey League (NHL) rivalry between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. The two teams have played in the same division ever since the Sharks began play in the 1991–92 season. They were in the Smythe Division from 1991 to 1993 and have been in the Pacific Division ever since. This rivalry stems from the fact that both teams are located in the state of California, as well as the other professional sports rivalries between Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, namely Dodgers–Giants, 49ers–Rams, Lakers–Warriors, and Earthquakes–Galaxy. The rivalry reached a boiling point in the early-to-mid 2010s, with Los Angeles and San Jose meeting in the playoffs four times in a span of six years, as well as one of the two teams appearing in six of seven conference finals from 2010 to 2016.