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Sharks hoping to move up in conference standings

Apr 1, 2007 - 2:51 PM Los Angeles (26-38-14) at San Jose (48-26-4) 6:00 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- The San Jose Sharks can move into a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

The Sharks trail the fifth-place Dallas Stars (48-24-6) by just two points. Dallas is idle on Sunday.

"You look at the teams that are going to be in the playoffs from our conference, and pretty much everyone will have 100 points, most likely," Sharks star Jonathan Cheechoo said. "You can't afford to take a single night off in the league if you want to be in the playoffs."

San Jose, which is four points shy from tying a franchise record, has only a two-point advantage over the Minnesota Wild (45-26-8) in the West.

Evgeni Nabokov recorded 25 saves and Mike Grier assisted on two goals in San Jose's 4-2 triumph over Phoenix on Friday.

With their postseason dreams already dashed for a fourth straight year, the Kings have dropped three straight after a 4-2 setback to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.