Editor: Jon Swenson
Writer: Max Giese
Writer: Darryl HuntTime for Hockey
The San Jose Sharks begin the two and a half month stretch run to earn a playoff spot tonight at 7PM against the Phoenix Coyotes. It is the first of 11 remaining divisional matchups on the season. Patrick Marleau scored the opening goal in a 4-2 win at Phoenix on January 17th, in the process he became the first player to reach the 1000-game milestone entirely with San Jose. The Sharks will hold a pre-game ceremony tonight to honor the achievement. With injuries to goaltender Antero Niittymaki and forward Torrey Mitchell, Alex Stalock, Benn Ferriero and John McCarthy have been called up from Worcester of the AHL. Scott Nichol is serving the final game of a 4-game suspension for a hit to the head of David Schlemko in Phoenix. He will be eligible to return to the lineup Wednesday night at Anaheim.
With a win the Coyotes would stretch their season high road win streak to 6 games, and snap a 6-game losing streak to San Jose that dates back to December 28th, 2009. Phoenix sits in sole possession of 6th place in the Western Conference, and with an extra game played they are 4 points ahead of 4th place San Jose in the Pacific. Tomorrow the Sharks will embark on the annual tennis road trip, this time for a season long 7-games as the SAP Open sets up the hard court at HP Pavilion.
To get in the mood for tonight’s game, possibly the best national anthem performed at HP Pavilion prior to game 3 of the 2007 WCQF by gifted tenor Chris Bengochea.