[0] TSYPLAKOV SURPRISES : KINGS 3 SAN JOSE 2.

Byline: Roger Phillips

Vladimir Tsyplakov emerged Thursday night from the hiding place he had inhabited for more than three months. He even remembered to raise his arms after scoring, although it would have been totally understandable if he'd forgotten to do so.

After going without a goal since Dec. 26, a 29-game drought, Tsyplakov scored twice as the Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 before a crowd of 12,785 at the Forum. Donald Audette also scored and Stephane Fiset stopped 32 of 34 shots by the Sharks.

Tsyplakov's performance, however, did not take the sting off a season in which he has scored just 10 goals, eight below the career high he set a year ago.

``It's my worst season so far in the NHL, actually my career,'' Tsyplakov said. ``It's hard to say (why). I work hard. The puck doesn't go in. Maybe I've got to shoot more, go to the net.''

In keeping with the tone of the season, the success of Tsyplakov and the team did not come without a price. No. 1 center Jozef Stumpel in all likelihood concluded his disappointing year when he left the game in the second period with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, courtesy of a takedown by Sharks defenseman Bryan Marchment. Stumpel will be re-examined today.

The Kings also announced that winger Sandy Moger will undergo surgery Monday to repair a partially torn left rotator cuff, ending his season.

Unless the Kings (29-43-5) are about to reel off five more victories to complete the regular season, the win over San Jose meant little. Playoff hopes all but died on the 1-4 trip the Kings concluded Monday with a loss at Colorado. For the record, the victory moved the Kings within six points of a playoff berth with five games remaining.

``We've still got a chance,'' Tsyplakov insisted. ``You never know.''

The Sharks (30-31-17), who are seventh in the Western Conference, needed to win the game to draw closer to St. Louis and the Mighty Ducks in the race for fifth place, but they showed little of the urgency one would have expected. San Jose might have been looking ahead to tonight's game against the Ducks at the Pond.

Tsyplakov opened the scoring 10:08 into the game when he found a hole in the Sharks' defense and beat goalie Mike Vernon with a 15-foot backhander. Less than four minutes later, Donald Audette scored on a breakaway. Tsyplakov scored again midway through the second period off a setup by Rob Blake.

The Sharks made a bid to get back in the game in the third period, Joe Murphy scoring on a power play after Blake took a penalty for cross-checking Alexander Korolyuk, with whom he'd battled all night. With 15 seconds to play and Vernon pulled for an extra skater, Jeff Norton cut San Jose's final deficit to one.

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Photo

Photo: Rob Blake of the Kings pursues the puck as Shark Jeff Friesen tries valiantly to be a hindrance.

Kevin Karzin/Associated Press