Patrick Marleau News

Despite their reputation for going quietly in elimination games, the Sharks often have been a tough out in those contests.

If the San Jose Sharks make it to the Stanley Cup finals, several players are Conn Smythe candidates Jim McIsaac/Getty Images The San Jose Sharks have two wins in the Western Conference semifinals.

The curt answers and the grim expressions Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning augured a strong effort by the Kings in Game 5, and it was forthcoming.

An impressive performance by the defending champions puts the Sharks on the brink of elimination heading into Sunday's Game 6 in San Jose.

The Detroit Red Wings finished as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and they did not appear to be in the same class as the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blackhawks.

The Los Angeles Kings are now the team bemoaning a late penalty while the San Jose Sharks celebrate a dramatic win.

May 21, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi gathers the puck ahead of Los Angeles Kings center Tyler Toffoli during the second period of game four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion.

Vigneault, the Canucks' all-time leader in coaching wins, led the club to six Northwest Division titles, two Presidents' Trophy titles and an appearance in the 2011 Stanley Cup final.

On one level, it was a tale of two Thorntons that set the tone for Tuesday night's NHL playoff action.

While the Sharks may have dodged a huge bullet by winning game three in overtime on Saturday, they still have some significant work to do.

Neatly framed but almost forgotten, a front page from the San Jose Mercury News sits against the wall in a room above the Sharks' practice rink.

San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi , of Finland, blocks a goal attempt against Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards as San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun looks on during the second period in Game 3 of their second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in San Jose, Calif.

Logan Couture, Doughty's childhood pal and now a rival as a center for the San Jose Sharks, stayed behind the camera, deliberately beyond reach of the revered prize.

The Sharks played half the game on guts Saturday night. But they finished in style.

A lottery official says 1 winning ticket has been sold in Florida for a record Powerball jackpot of more than $590 million.

It's been less than 10 months since the world record for a lottery prize. On Saturday night, it could conceivably fall once again.

The Sharks are hoping for a lift from the notoriously loud HP Pavilion crowd Saturday night for a vital Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles fought back from a goal down with less than two minutes to play to stun the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in a frenzied finish to Game Two of their Western Conference semi-finals series on Thursday.

Sharks forward Raffi Torres was suspended for the rest of San Jose's second-round playoff series against Los Angeles on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Kings forward Jarret Stoll during the opener.

After a quick exit, Habs fans find themselves without a team to cheer for in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.