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Sharks host Kings in Pacific Division matchup

Mar 27, 2007 - 3:58 PM Los Angeles (26-36-14) at San Jose (46-26-4) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- The San Jose Sharks have a chance to pick up two important points Tuesday when they face the lowly Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose has 96 points and is deadlocked with Dallas (45-24-6) for second place in the Pacific Division, four points behind Anaheim (44-20-12). The Sharks and Stars also are tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

On Saturday, the Sharks wrapped a four-game road trip with a 6-4 loss to Carolina. Reigning Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist and Jonathan Cheechoo scored for the Sharks, who have won six of their last eight games.

Thornton has 83 assists to lead the league and his 104 points rank second to Sidney Crosby (111). The All-Star center has five goals and 16 assists in his current 10-game points streak.

Cheechoo, who had a hat trick in a 5-1 triumph over Atlanta on Thursday, has six goals in his last three games and has two tallies and three assists in five contests against Los Angeles.

Mired in 13th place in the West and out of the playoff picture, the Kings are coming off Saturday's 4-1 loss at Minnesota. Dustin Brown scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, which is 4-2-1 in its last seven contests.

San Jose has won four of the six meetings between the teams this season.