Things bad all around

The downcast and seemingly emotionless Kings dressing room after Thursday’s 7-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks said plenty.

The fact is the Kings need to be better, as defenseman Rob Blake said, and let him count the ways.

“The power play, the penalty kill, five-on-five, in the defensive zone, in the offensive zone,” Blake said.

The Kings can certainly be better than they showed Thursday, but whether they are good enough to challenge for a playoff spot is in serious doubt. As of Friday, the Kings have a 1-8-2 record against teams that held playoff spots.

Their chances seem less likely playing in the Pacific Division, with 24 games against the Ducks, the Sharks and the Dallas Stars, the Western Conference’s top three top teams right now. They are 0-5-1 against those teams and, if the first-place Ducks play .500 the rest of the season, the Kings would need to go 40-23-1 just to tie them.

“I think everyone considers San Jose and Anaheim as two teams that can win the Stanley Cup,” forward Scott Thornton said.

Asked if the Kings can be significantly better, Blake said, “It’s hard to answer because we haven’t played to that level yet. It’s going to take hard work, and smart work. You can work as hard as you want, but if you don’t work smart you’re going to have a hard time.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Minnesota, 7:30, FSNW

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 5-10-3, Wild 10-4-0.

Record vs. Wild -- 0-1-1.

Update -- Coach Marc Crawford would not say who will be in goal tonight, although it hasn’t mattered recently. Dan Cloutier has given up nine goals in his last two starts, Mathieu Garon 12 in his last two starts.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

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chris.foster@latimes.com