KINGS NOTEBOOK: SAN JOSE FINDS WAY BACK IN THE RACE.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer A year ago, the Kings and San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). were among the worst teams in the Pacific Division. Now they are 1-2 and facing each other the next two nights. The Sharks (12-9-10-3) have rebounded from their worst season in nine years to move within two points of the surprising Kings in the division. It helps that Dallas is struggling and Western Conference champion Mighty Ducks
Mighty Ducks is a half-hour Disney animated series aired on ABC and The Disney Afternoon in the fall of 1996. Twenty-six episodes total were produced. can't score. But San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. clearly is back on its game. The Sharks head into tonight's action undefeated in nine games (5-0-4-0) at home. ``They never really got on track last year,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``They had some early holdouts and then a coaching change. Once again, they are a formidable team.'' And a team that could play a big role in the Kings' future. The two clubs play each four times in their last 11 games, including the regular-season finale April 4 in San Jose. The Sharks' biggest problem in 2002-03 was the holdout hold·out n. One that withholds agreement or consent upon which progress is contingent. Noun 1. holdout - a negotiator who hopes to gain concessions by refusing to come to terms; "their star pitcher was a holdout for six of goaltender Evgeni Nabokov Evgeni Viktorovich Nabokov (Russian: Евге́ний Ви́кторович Набо́ков , who missed much of the first half and has not played well until recently. Nabokov has recorded three consecutive victories against the Ducks. With Nabokov off his game last year, the Sharks allowed 40 more goals than 2001-02 when the club was the Pacific Division champion. San Jose also has gotten solid goaltending goal·tend·ing n. 1. Sports The act of protecting a goal, as in hockey and other such sports. 2. Basketball from Vesa Toskala Vesa Tapani Toskala (born on May 20, 1977 in Tampere, Finland), is an ice hockey goaltender currently signed with the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs. Early career Toskala was selected by San Jose in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft (4th round, 90th overall). , whose 2.07 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in 15 games are among the league leaders. The Sharks have less firepower than a year ago. Teemu Selanne (28 goals) signed with Colorado and captain Owen Nolan Owen Liam Nolan (born February 12, 1972 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an Irish-Canadian professional hockey player who is currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League. was traded to Toronto last March at the deadline. Former No. 1 draft pick Patrick Marleau scored 28 last season and has 13 already. But veteran Vincent Damphousse has just three after scoring 23 last year. The defense and penalty killing also have improved. Until the Ducks' Stanislav Chistov scored at 2:25 of the second period, it marked the first time the Sharks gave up a 5-on-4 power-play goal. In that game they allowed just two shots in the first period. Although the Sharks have struggled recently on the power play, they are seventh in the league with a 19-percent success rate. In the loss to the Cardinals, San Jose was 0 for 7. In the first period against the Ducks, the Sharks fell behind after going 0 for 4 with the man advantage. Left-winger Marco Sturm appeared in his 500th game that night and scored his 11th goal. Seven have come on the power play. Matt McHale, (818) 713-3622 matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Box: (1) KINGS vs. SAN JOSE - Matt McHale (2) A LOOK AHEAD |
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