Vegas
01-07-2006, 01:24 PM
Los Angeles (27-14-2) at San Jose (17-16-5) 10:30 pm EST
SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- One of the league's toughest goaltenders of late goes up against one of the hottest lines Saturday when the Los Angeles Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=los) try to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the San Jose Sharks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=san).
Kings netminder Mathieu Garon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1968) made 29 saves for his fifth career shutout in a 4-0 victory over Phoenix on Thursday. Garon has won five straight decisions and 10 of his last 11. He was named the NHL's Defensive Player of the Month Award for December on Tuesday after going 9-3-0 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .924 save percentage during the final month of 2005.
However, he will have the unenviable task of facing the Sharks' vaunted line of Joe Thornton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1600), Jonathan Cheechoo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2100) and Nils Ekman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1995), who combined for 11 points in a 6-3 triumph over Columbus on Thursday.
Thornton has 12 multi-point efforts since joining the Sharks in a trade with Boston on November 30, totaling six goals and 19 assists in 14 games. Meanwhile, Cheechoo has 16 goals in that stretch following Thursday's second career hat trick.
In addition, Ekman has tied the franchise record with four assists in each of the last two games after totally three through his first 32 games.
The season series is tied at 1-1 with the teams exchanging one-goal victories in Los Angeles.
SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- One of the league's toughest goaltenders of late goes up against one of the hottest lines Saturday when the Los Angeles Kings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=los) try to extend their winning streak to four games when they visit the San Jose Sharks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/clubhouse?team=san).
Kings netminder Mathieu Garon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1968) made 29 saves for his fifth career shutout in a 4-0 victory over Phoenix on Thursday. Garon has won five straight decisions and 10 of his last 11. He was named the NHL's Defensive Player of the Month Award for December on Tuesday after going 9-3-0 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .924 save percentage during the final month of 2005.
However, he will have the unenviable task of facing the Sharks' vaunted line of Joe Thornton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1600), Jonathan Cheechoo (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=2100) and Nils Ekman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/profile?statsId=1995), who combined for 11 points in a 6-3 triumph over Columbus on Thursday.
Thornton has 12 multi-point efforts since joining the Sharks in a trade with Boston on November 30, totaling six goals and 19 assists in 14 games. Meanwhile, Cheechoo has 16 goals in that stretch following Thursday's second career hat trick.
In addition, Ekman has tied the franchise record with four assists in each of the last two games after totally three through his first 32 games.
The season series is tied at 1-1 with the teams exchanging one-goal victories in Los Angeles.