Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Anze Kopitar, the longtime captain of the Los Angeles Kings, was set to play in his 100th career game against the San Jose Sharks on January 7, 2026. However, a lower-body injury suffered two nights earlier kept him out of the milestone matchup. Over his 99 previous games against the Sharks, Kopitar has recorded 29 goals, 48 assists, and 77 points – the second-most against any opponent in his illustrious 20-year NHL career.

Why it matters

Reaching 100 games against a single opponent is an incredibly rare feat in the modern NHL, with only a handful of players accomplishing it. Kopitar’s consistency and longevity have made him one of the league’s all-time greats, and this missed milestone was a disappointing end to his storied rivalry with the Sharks.

The details

Kopitar suffered the lower-body injury on January 5 against the Minnesota Wild, forcing him to miss the January 7 game against the Sharks. In his 99 previous games against San Jose, Kopitar has scored more points (77) than he has against all but two other teams – the Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (95 points in 91 games) and the Anaheim Ducks (90 points in 94 games).

Kopitar suffered the injury on January 5 against the Minnesota Wild.The January 7 game against the Sharks was set to be Kopitar’s 100th career game against the team.
The players

Anze Kopitar

The longtime captain of the Los Angeles Kings, who is retiring after this NHL season. Kopitar is one of the league’s all-time great two-way centers, with two Stanley Cup championships, two Selke Trophies, and a reputation as one of the smartest players in the game.

San Jose Sharks

The Kings’ longtime Pacific Division rival, who Kopitar has faced more times than any other opponent in his 20-year career.

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What they’re saying

“Kopitar had a goal (video below), and an assist in a Kings loss that went to a shootout after Adrian Kempe tied the game with less than a minute remaining. Even in defeat, Kopitar left his mark one more time.”

— Adrian Kempe, Kings player (Twitter)

What’s next

The Kings will play the Sharks one more time this season, on March 15, which could be Kopitar’s final game against the longtime rival.

The takeaway

Anze Kopitar’s consistency and longevity have made him one of the NHL’s all-time greats, but missing his 100th career game against the Sharks due to injury was a disappointing end to his storied rivalry with the team. His legacy, however, extends far beyond individual milestones.