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LOS ANGELES, Calif. http://www.shopjerseysbroncos.com/Customized/ . - With about 2 minutes left in what was already the wackiest game of the season for the Sharks and Kings, Ryane Clowe stood up at the San Jose bench and reached his stick over the boards and onto the ice. Clowe deftly poked the puck away from Los Angeles onrushing Jarret Stoll, who understandably didnt anticipate this development, then pulled his stick back. Stoll screamed, the Staples Center crowd erupted - but no officials noticed this graceful moment of apparently blatant cheating. "I dont remember that play," Clowe said, smiling coyly. Both teams will remember the Sharks 6-5 shootout win over the Kings on Thursday night for much more than this astonishing bit of gamesmanship. Less than a week after San Jose was out of the Western Conference playoff picture, the Sharks are back on top in a three-team race for the Pacific Division title that will go down to the final day of the regular season. San Jose and Los Angeles clinched playoff berths during the game when Dallas and Colorado lost elsewhere, but the Sharks rallied from a late two-goal deficit and then hung on, with Antti Niemi stopping all three Los Angeles shootout tries. Joe Pavelski scored the only shootout goal after the teams combined for five goals in the wild third period, and the Sharks pulled even with Los Angeles atop the division with 94 points. Although Phoenix now has the clearest path to the Pacific crown and the No. 3 seed in the West, San Jose still has a shot at its fifth consecutive division title when the Sharks and Kings finish the regular season Saturday night at the Shark Tank. "Weve had a tough month and a half, but weve won games weve really had to win," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "Thats the sign of a strong team. ... I knew there was going to be a lot of emotion. I thought it was going to be a hard game. I didnt anticipate us scoring five. I didnt count on us giving up five as well." Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Clowe each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks in a phenomenal game between California rivals featuring seven power-play goals, multiple fights and two rough goaltending performances. "That was a crazy game, man," Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle said. "Down 3-1, we battled back. They got another one. We took the lead. It was a pretty entertaining game for the fans, and it was a hard-fought win. We showed a lot of character." Theyll need more character and more luck to stay in front of the Kings or the Coyotes. Phoenix has 93 points, one behind Los Angeles and San Jose, but has two games left - at St. Louis and Minnesota. Thornton, Clowe and Marleau scored during a 5 1/2-minute surge starting late in the second period, erasing the Kings two-goal lead before Marty Havlat put the Sharks ahead. Jason Demers scored an early goal for the Sharks, and Niemi made 31 saves. Jonathan Quick stopped 26 shots while allowing five goals for the first time in his All-Star season for Los Angeles. Stoll snapped a 33-game goal drought with a second-period score, while Justin Williams had two goals, and Alec Martinez and captain Dustin Brown also scored. Anze Kopitar matched Willie Mitchells career-high three assists, but the Kings couldnt hold a late lead in their biggest regular-season game in several years. "It was definitely the weirdest game of the year," Stoll said. "It was disappointing, just getting one point. We just didnt get the job done on the (penalty kill). ... Its always a battle for us, so now were going to have to go in there and play a good road game like weve done all year. Weve won in tough buildings, and its no different here." Havlat put the Sharks ahead on a power-play goal with 7:23 to play, but Williams tied it for Los Angeles with his second goal of the third period during a two-man advantage with 3:31 left. The proceedings then turned bizarre with about 2 minutes left in regulation when Stoll broke down the ice on a rush near the Sharks bench - and Clowe pulled a stunt that will live on for years in this hopping rivalry. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about," Clowe said. "Ill have to see the video or something. Someone show me the video." None of the officials apparently noticed what television cameras and thousands of booing Kings fans clearly saw, allowing the game to continue without a whistle until regulation ended. "I dont see why he shouldnt (get suspended)," Kings defenceman Drew Doughty said. "To me, thats like a guy running down the football field and a guy comes out and tackles him to keep him from getting a touchdown. I dont see how this is any different. Maybe the refs didnt see it, but I wouldnt blame them full-out. Its hard to see things like that, especially a stick reaching over the bench." Los Angeles, which had won nine of 12 to surge into the division lead, now needs help to win just the second division title in the franchises 44-year history. NOTES: The Kings played their fourth straight game without power forward Jeff Carter, who thinks hell return from his ankle injury for the post-season. ... Thornton completed a Gordie Howe hat trick with his assist on Marleaus goal. ... Kopitar set a career high with his 49th assist on Martinezs goal. He has a five-game points streak. Bradley Roby Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Broncos #29 Jersey . Mario Goetze opened the scoring after 11 minutes of concerted pressure from Bayern, and Franck Ribery, back in the starting lineup after recovering from his back problems, made it 2-0 a minute before halftime.PEORIA, Ariz. - Jesus Montero was visibly nervous Wednesday as he apologized to his Seattle Mariners teammates and their fans. The catcher-turned-first baseman was joining the team at spring training for the first time since receiving a 50-game suspension after being connected to baseballs Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug investigation. "I want to apologize to the whole organization and all my teammates for what I did last year," Montero said, his voice tinged with emotion. "I know I made a bad mistake last year and I dont know what I was thinking. But Im here right now this year to be better and to help the team to win." Montero is coming off a rough 2013. The catcher was a prized acquisition via trade with the New York Yankees in 2012 but struggled last year with his hitting and defence and was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma, where he was moved to first base. Then came a torn meniscus that required season-ending knee surgery and the suspension. "This was the first time that happened to me. I had six good years in the minor leagues and one good year in the big leagues," Montero said. "Then this happened and it was hard for me and my family. But thank God its in the past already and Im here to move forward and here to be better every day. Lamin Barrow Broncos Jersey. " Montero, 24, is on the Mariners 40-man roster but is not guaranteed a spot on the major-league roster going into this season. He said his knee feels much better, but hell have work to do to make the big-league club, or potentially start the year in the minors. Before his statement, several teammates approached Montero in the clubhouse to greet him and welcome him back. "I have to prove to myself, first of all, that I want to be in the big leagues," he said, pledging to continue to learn to play first base and play wherever the organization wants him. "My teammates, theyre really important to me. I want them to be comfortable with me. I dont want them to be mad or be upset. I want everybody to know Im a good person." NOTES: Former Tampa Bay Rays closer Fernando Rodney was in the clubhouse Tuesday morning awaiting a physical. He remained officially unsigned pending the results and had yet to be listed on the teams spring training roster. . Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, team President Kevin Mather and infielder Robinson Cano are in the Dominican Republic for Thursdays opening of the clubs baseball academy there. The academy sits on 24 acres in the town of Boca Chica. ' ' ' |
