Hot start proves enough as Sharks even series SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Dominant through two periods, the San Jose Sharks held on for dear life in the third to beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Tuesday and even their Western Conference semifinal series at two wins apiece. Los Angeles outshot San Jose 14-2 in the final 20 minutes but could not rally from a 2-0 deficit. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday in Los Angeles.

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - It started almost two decades ago with a $20 hockey stick once wielded by a forgotten player for a string of mediocre teams. It ends this week when millions of dollars are likely to change hands as what may be the world's largest game-worn collection of memorabilia from the world's best player from the sport's last great dynasty goes on the auction block.

Kings even series with two third-period goals LOS ANGELES -- The gloves came off between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Figuratively, if not literally. In the process, a series dominated by strong wills and two hard-line approaches experienced a game of collective artistry, ambition and explosiveness.

Sharks 5, Canucks 2: Logan Couture scored two goals and set up two others while Joe Pavelski added a pair of tallies and an assist as host San Jose pushed Northwest Division champion Vancouver to the brink of elimination in their Western Conference first-round series. Patrick Marleau recorded a goal, captain Joe Thornton notched two assists and Antti Niemi made 28 saves for the sixth-seeded Sharks, who can become the first team to advance to the second round when they host Game 4 on Tuesday.