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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, Dave Lowry. RW - Tony Granato, Owen Nolan, Todd Ewen, John MacLean, Joe Murphy D - Ken Sutton, Bryan Marchmant, Bill Houlder, Al Iafrate, Marty McSorley, Marcus Ragnarsson, Mike Rathje, Andrei Zyuzin. G - Mike Vernon, Kelly Hrudey.

injuries: Todd Ewen, lw (knee, out for season).

transactions: None.

standings:

Western Conference - Pacific Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA  
x-Colorado   77  37  24  16    90  217  192  
Los Angeles  75  34  30  11    79  210  204 
San Jose     76  31  37   8    70  190  205  
Edmonton     76  30  36  10    70  192  208 
Calgary      75  25  36  14    64  200  222  
Vancouver    76  24  39  13    61  212  258  
Anaheim      76  24  40  12    60  187  241  
x - Clinched playoff spot

game results:

4/07 Calgary      W 6-0
4/09 Anaheim      W 5-2
4/11 Vancouver    T 1-1
4/15 at Calgary   T 3-3
4/16 at Colorado  L 4-1
4/18 Calgary      W 4-1  

team news:

by Al Swanson, San Jose Correspondent

OK, by now everyone knows the truth: The Sharks are in the playoffs for the first time in three years. In past columns we've gone over the bad, the good and the games. If you've been to this report this season, you already know that I think: 1) Sutter's system works; 2) Jeff Friesen is a hockey god; 3) A healthy Al Iafrate is worth two of anything else; 4) Owen Nolan is in a coma; 5) Mike Vernon is huge between the pipes; and, 6) Ed Belfour sucks.

We'll go into each of those, but right now, let's have a little fun with a game of "what if". There's no what if with the first matchup: Sharks vs. Stars. I don't know about you, but I think Sutter told the men in teal to make it look good, but don't make it in to 7th place. The Finned Ones match up much better against Dallas than they do against Colorado. And as far as Dallas goes, I pick (who else?) Sharks in 6. Oh, Dallas is good, but they have a bum for a goalie and he's gonna hear nothing but the big raspberry when he strolls into SJ Arena next week. The one thing, above all else, that SJ fans want to see is Ed Belfour limping back out like the loser that he is.

Enough about the Turkey Vulture. Dallas will be dispatched. Keep in mind the Teal Terrors have never lost in the first round. (I know, keep in mind they've only been there twice. Shut up and take your seats.) Next, the second round. That's where we have lost each trip before. And it'll be Colorado or Detroit. If it's the Avs, the Sharks will be watching the third round from the comfort of their Lazy Boys. But I give the nod to the Sharks if they play Detroit. They crushed the Wings this year and they have had three years to build up after the humiliating 6-2, 6-0, 6-2, 6-0 spanking Detroit handed them in their last meeting in the runoffs. After that...? My good crystal ball's in the shop and this plastic marble's a bit faint, but if that's St Louis in there with them, then it's Brett Hull and Co. doing the celebrating.

Do you know that SJ only lost one game in April? Yeah, this year has stat fans falling all over themselves to come up with the best way to put the best picture on the whole thing. And most of it is the truth. Let's face it, it's been a long haul to get this far. But, also, let's look at this: The West sucked this year. The Sharks squeaked in.

But they have never been in better shape. There are no injuries to speak of. Unless you count Iafrate's knees, Nolan's hand or Friesen's shoulder. They have beefed up every section of the team. And most importantly, they are winning. The Sharks left on a six-game road trip, longest of the season, five points out of eighth place. They came back tied for sixth place and in possession of the best road trip the team has ever had -- 4-1-1. Part of the incredible April the team has put together.

Alrighty, let's look at those six items. 1) Sutter's System Works. Any doubt can be erased by watching either the progress of the whole team over the season or by watching any Detroit-San Jose game. Both are studies in how to learn to shut down an offense. Sutter and Lombardi built a strong defensive corps this year and it shows. Goals against were 278 last year, Sutter's system reduced that to 216 this year. OK, so they scored one less this year (210 vs. 211). He'll have to work on offense next year.

2) Jeff Friesen is a Hockey God. Too strong? OK, how about a San Jose Sharks Hockey God? He tied Owen Nolan's record of 31 goals this season (Earning himself a tidy little half million dollar bonus on the way. Good deal, Jeff!) He also is the hottest player on the team, sparking something every time he's on the ice. On the penalty kill, he not only backchecks with force, but once he's freed the puck, he makes the opposing team rush back to their zone to prevent him from putting it their net himself. Six times this year they weren't able to do that.

3) If Jeff is a Hockey God, then Al Iafrate is the Devil. At least to the opposition. With Al in the mix, the Sharks have only lost three games. Too true, he did cause one loss himself, but I think he's been redeemed. He can skate, hit, pass and shoot. Plus, on occasion, he can even take it to the net. Watch the respect he engenders every time he's on the ice -- both from his team and the 'other guys'. The Sharks paid him a (well- deserved) $1.85 mill this year. And they have an option on him next year as well. Hey, Mr Gund, are you listening? (Just have his knees MRI'ed first.)

4) Owen Nolan. Hmmm... I know I haven't been real kind to Owen this year. And I know everyone else has been saying he plays all other aspects of the game - outside of scoring - like a true champ. But let's be real. Owen wasn't brought in to play the other aspects - he was brought in to score. No one says that some player has the potential to be a 50-hit-per-season checker. A 50 'save the rookie from a beating' player. They say that he's a 50-goal-per-year guy. Or a 60-point-a-year guy. At least that's what's said when the guy's getting $2.5 mill a year. I know about the hand and the shoulder and... Sorry! Maybe the NHL can give a half point per pipe shot. That'd increase scoring and make Nolan the highest point man on any team.

Now don't think that I want Owen on any team but Team Teal, cause I don't. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the man. Just get well this summer, Owen.

5) Mike Vernon is huge between the pipes. Can it be more true? Mike has let in less than three goals in 37 of 42 starts. Yikes. He has five shutouts. He brought the team - at least on the defensive side - back from the brink in December when they were only winning one in three. He won MVP for the team and it is richly deserved.

6) Ed Belfour sucks. I just like how that sounds. Mind if I say it again? Ed Belfour sucks. Now imagine 17,400 other folks chanting it. Ain't life grand?

The team that goes into these playoffs is significantly different from the team that showed up last time. Only four players have not seen the playoffs on this team. There are only two players - Mike Rathje and Jeff Friesen - who saw action on the last team. This team has Mike Ricci, Joe Murphy, John MacLean and Mike Vernon. This team has Bernie Nicholls, Big Al Iafrate, Bill Houlder and Murray Craven. This team has a man the other teams - especially Dallas - will be watching and watching out for: Bryan Marchment. This team has the best rookie trio in the league: Marco Sturm, Andrei Zyuzin and Patrick Marleau.

This team has a chance.

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