head coach: Darryl Sutter

roster: C - Bernie Nicholls, Ron Sutter, Patrick Marleau, Marco Sturm, Mike Ricci, Jeff Friesen, Alex Korolyuk. LW - Shawn Burr, Murray Craven, Stephane Matteau, Steve Goulla, Dave Lowry. RW - Tony Granato, Owen Nolan, Todd Ewen, John MacLean, Andrei Nazarov, Barry Potomski. D - Ken Sutton, Todd Gill, Bill Houlder, Al Iafrate, Marty McSorley, Marcus Ragnarsson, Mike Rathje, Andrei Zyuzin. G - Mike Vernon, Kelly Hrudey.

injuries: Todd Ewen, rw (knee, out for season), Al Iafrate, d (knee surgery on 12/29, out at least six weeks).

transactions: None.

standings:

Western Conference - Pacific Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA  
Colorado     52  24  12  16    64  153  126
Los Angeles  49  21  19   9    51  139  136
Edmonton     50  18  23   9    45  129  143
San Jose     49  18  24   7    43  120  132
Anaheim      51  17  25   9    43  124  151
Calgary      51  13  28  10    36  128  160
Vancouver    50  12  30   8    32  129  180

game results:

1/14 Los Angeles  L 4 - 2
1/15 at Colorado  T 2 - 2
1/21 Calgary      W 7 - 2
1/23 Edmonton     W 3 - 2
1/24 Florida      T 1 - 1

team news:

by Al Swanson, San Jose Correspondent

After a pre-All Star slump and another loss at the hands of the Kings, the Sharks rallied to a four- game unbeaten streak (2-0-2). Ironic as it seems, the Sharks show up against the best teams in the league (two wins over Detroit, blanking the Flyers, tying the Avs and shutting out the Stars), but choke when it comes to the basement teams (losses to Calgary, Vancouver and Tampa Bay). It may be that the best teams don't show up against the Sharks, or it may be that San Jose is better than the record suggests.

Are the Sharks a better team than the record suggests? If one watches the games against Detroit this year, the answer is a resounding "YES"! Against Detroit, Darryl Sutter's system of D first, goals when you can, was played to the hilt. The trap at center ice was quick and brutal, the hits were frequent and the dumb penalties (read Nazarov and McSorley) were few. That Shark team is a playoff contender and even something to be feared. (Against the Wings this season, the Sharks are 2-1, outscoring Detroit 12-5.)

If one watches inter-conference games though, the Sharks are bottom-basement dwellers. Witness the losses to Vancouver and Calgary earlier this year if you need a reminder of what the Sharks can do when they don't show up.

Still, San Jose is certainly in the hunt this year. Not because the record is better than years past -- it isn't. In fact, it's darn close to being the same record. But the whole division - with the Avs exception - is worse this year.

San Jose still needs a sniper. They have a couple in Jeff Friesen and Owen Nolan, but Owen still hasn't shown up in the scoring contest this year. Keep in mind that last year Keith Tkachuk had only four goals by early December and finished up the year with 50. If Nolan can pull something like that off, whew...watch out Western Conference. Jeff Friesen meanwhile, continues to hone his game and is fixating on that million dollar payday for 80 points. For those of you who don't know, Friesen's contract gives him a one million dollar bonus at 80 points and 50k for each point thereafter. Sweet! Jeff certainly has his eyes on that prize. Even so, the team is short that one guy who can put the biscuit in the basket regularly. Look for Deano to pull a rabbit out of the hat if the Sharks make it to the playoffs.

San Jose can also use a big time D man. Iafrate looks to return following the Olympic break, but folks, don't count on him. Not to fault The Planet. No indeed. But he's only played less than half a season in the last two years and was out for two years prior to that. With him on the ice, the Sharks are a playoff team. No doubt. Without him, it's less than a sure thing. Sutter's system of D first nearly makes up for his absence at times, but his presence is missed. Houlder, McSorley, Gill and most definitely Marcus Ragnarsson are stepping up to the plate and Zyuzin is becoming the man to watch. But, SJ could have used the likes of Roman Hamrlik when he was dealt last month. Again, look to Lombardi and Co. to knock down all barriers to get a big defenseman when the playoffs loom.

Today, the Sharks are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. But there are three more months of grinding games against conference and division rivals - teams that SJ has had trouble with this year and must beat - before the playoffs begin. So nothing is certain except this: The Sharks are putting on the ice the best team to have a chance for post-season play that they've had in three years. Now if they could just score for Hrudey...

In The News...

Patrick Marleau recorded his ninth goal in the come-from-behind win against the Oilers this week, keeping him in contention for Rookie of the Year. Marleau's game has steadily improved and he appears to have more confidence. Owen Nolan calls him "scary talented". Sharks management hope he's one of the 'new breed' that will be taking the team into the next century.

Marcus Ragnarsson is one of two Sharks headed to the Olympics, the other is Marco Sturm. Rags' game has been picking up all year. He has two goals in the past month and has used his size and speed to let opponents know he's there. Look for him to be a force on the ice in Nagano. Speaking of Sturm, since he won the Rookie of the Week honors, he's been a bit quiet. He doesn't have a goal in January and his ice time shows it. Was December a fluke? Don't think so! Sturm is young and with the playoffs a-comin', it's a safe bet his game will pick up.

Jarrod Skalde was claimed off waivers by Chicago this month and after a goal and four assists for the Blackhawks, looks to be headed back to SJ on the 27th if no lower place team claims him. That's right, he's back on waivers and Deano looks to take him back into the fold.

Game Recaps:

King me! - LA in SJ
In the month of January, the Sharks play 11 home games -- games that are supposed to be for the hometown fans. They haven't produced much for the Tank, though. And the game against LA was no different. Rob Blake improved his stats against the Sharks, recording his first two-goal game in four years. The one bright spot was Friesen, who scored both Fish goals. A disappointing SJ loss, 4-2.

Avalanche! No wait, just some snow - Sharks in Av territory
What is it about backup goalies and the Sharks? Storr was in for the loss to LA and Billington made 40 saves against the Sharks in Colorado. While the Sharks absolutely dominated the game, shooting 42 times, Billington dominated the net, saving all but two. McSorley scored his first since opening night and Ragnarsson scored his second, bringing SJ's defensemen into the scoring role again. Too bad they only managed a tie, 2-2.

If you play with fire... Flames in the Tank
The Flames came to town with their backup goalie in place, too. Maybe that was a mistake. The Sharks came alive in this one, scoring seven times. Granato had two goals in the first, and two assists in the second. Friesen, MacLean, Ricci, and Rags all scored also. Marco Sturm had an assist. It was Sharks the whole game through. Unfortunately, Calgary managed one in the third, spoiling Vernon's shutout bid against his former team. A stomping out of the Flames, 7-1.

Oiled up and ready to rock - Oilers visit the Sharks
>From the outset, it looked like another Shark home game, another loss in the Tank. The Oilers were winning 2-1 as the third period opened. The Sharks had only one win when trailing after two periods so far this season. Had. Cujo stopped 25 shots but let in enough - three - to insure a Sharks come from behind win. Friesen tallied and Andrei Zyuzin recorded his first multi-point game in the NHL. Patrick Marleau also scored and chalked up an assist in the first defeat against Edmonton this year, 3-2.

Cats in the Tank - Florida in San Jose
In a situation reminiscent of so many Sharks games, Ed Jovanovski took a late penalty in the third, setting up a six-on-four with Hrudey outta the net and allowing John MacLean's goal with less than 16 seconds left. The Sharks did not follow through in the OT, though. Hrudey has only received 1.54 goals per game support from the Sharks and this game was no different. Hrudey made some spectacular saves to keep SJ in the game and the Sharks manage a tie, 1-1.

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