Todd Mclellan

SAN JOSE -- Todd McLellan discovered a lot about his team during his triumphant NHL coaching debut, a dominant performance by the San Jose Sharks in a 4-1 victory over the Ducks on Thursday. He expects to find out even more tonight, when the Sharks face the Kings at HP Pavilion. It's easy to be motivated for the season opener, especially when it's at home and against a close rival.

On the morning of what loomed as their last game of the season, the San Jose Sharks held an optional skate Saturday at HP Pavilion -- and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau opted not to participate. There are two ways to look at that. They were just being consistent, since neither had shown up for most of the first four games of their playoff series against the Ducks, which the Ducks led, 3-1.

Coach Todd McLellan had stern words about the Sharks' shortcomings in their playoff-opening 2-0 loss to the Ducks, hinting he might change the lineup when the series resumes Sunday at HP Pavilion. He also said he might move Joe Thornton's line away from Ryan Getzlaf's line to free his top trio to be more active offensively.

For the Sharks, the two days between Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Ducks and Game 2 today at HP Pavilion felt like two weeks. "I hate it. It's driving me nuts," forward Jeremy Roenick said Saturday. "It's no fun, especially when you lose. It just gives you longer to think about it." The break gave each coach time to find fault with his team. San Jose's Todd McLellan stopped a drill to bark a few choice words Saturday morning and Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle did the same a few hours later.

For the Sharks, the two days between Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Ducks and Game 2 today at HP Pavilion felt like two weeks. "I hate it. It's driving me nuts," forward Jeremy Roenick said Saturday. "It's no fun, especially when you lose. It just gives you longer to think about it." The break gave each coach time to find fault with his team. San Jose's Todd McLellan stopped a drill to bark a few choice words Saturday morning and Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle did the same a few hours later.

On the morning of what loomed as their last game of the season, the San Jose Sharks held an optional skate Saturday at HP Pavilion -- and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau opted not to participate. There are two ways to look at that. They were just being consistent, since neither had shown up for most of the first four games of their playoff series against the Ducks, which the Ducks led, 3-1.

Kings center Jarret Stoll took a hard hit from San Jose left winger Raffi Torres near the end of the second period of L.A.'s 2-0 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their NHL playoff series. Stoll was injured and sat out the third period. Coach Darryl Sutter had no comment on the play but said of Stoll: "We weren't resting him and he didn't come back. " Torres was sent off the ice for charging. The NHL is expected to announce Wednesday whether it will hold a hearing to determine whether Torres should be fined or suspended for the hit. No question how Sharks Coach Todd McLellan would rule if he were in charge.

Evgeni Nabokov returned to San Jose's lineup and immediately had an impact, stopping 23 shots in regulation and overtime and six of seven shootout attempts. No big deal for the All-Star goalie. "The guys really made it easier for me," Nabokov said after the Sharks' 2-1 victory over the Kings on Saturday night. "I didn't have to face a lot of shots. I felt good right off the bat."

The San Jose Sharks expressed surprise on Wednesday when NHL officials summoned their rugged left winger Raffi Torres to a hearing in New York to discuss a hit on Kings forward Jarret Stoll. Torres checked Stoll near the end of the second period in Tuesday night's Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. There has been disagreement over whether contact was shoulder to shoulder or shoulder to head. Torres was called for charging and an injured Stoll did not return.

Times columnist Helene Elliott rates the pluses and minuses in the NHL from the previous week: + The word "regal" was coined for Jean Beliveau, the former Montreal Canadiens captain and 10-time Stanley Cup champion who was hospitalized last week after suffering a stroke. His wife, Elise, told the Montreal Gazette that by week's end he was laughing, speaking and regaining his strength. Best wishes go to the man who epitomizes class. + Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller shut out the Ducks and Sharks on the road and had a shutout streak of 155 minutes 37 seconds before he yielded a goal at Vancouver on Saturday.

Coach Todd McLellan had stern words about the Sharks' shortcomings in their playoff-opening 2-0 loss to the Ducks, hinting he might change the lineup when the series resumes Sunday at HP Pavilion. He also said he might move Joe Thornton's line away from Ryan Getzlaf's line to free his top trio to be more active offensively.

SAN JOSE -- Todd McLellan discovered a lot about his team during his triumphant NHL coaching debut, a dominant performance by the San Jose Sharks in a 4-1 victory over the Ducks on Thursday. He expects to find out even more tonight, when the Sharks face the Kings at HP Pavilion. It's easy to be motivated for the season opener, especially when it's at home and against a close rival.

The Stanley Cup (almost) goes to traffic school . . . San Jose Sharks' first-year Coach Todd McLellan, who was an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings last season, was given a day with the venerable Cup in the summer. So he took it to his hometown in Saskatoon, Canada, and there was a presentation at City Hall. "We were running a little bit late, so I parked in a bus stop, which obviously warrants a ticket," he said Sunday before the Sharks-Ducks game at the Honda Center.