Sharks Have Edge on Kings : Hockey: San Jose wins, controls final playoff spot with nine games left.

Even among the rabble of the Western Conference--where slim credentials and weak resumes don’t preclude admission to the playoffs--there are minimum standards.

And right now, losing four consecutive games and scoring two goals in three games doesn’t cut it. If the playoffs began today, the Kings would not be among the not-so-exclusive club of eight conference teams advancing. The Sharks have been scratching and clawing their way back into the race and moved past the Kings into eighth place with a 2-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at San Jose Arena before a spirited sellout crowd of 17,190.

Goaltender Arturs Irbe, regaining his splendid form of last season, recorded his second shutout against the Kings this season and third of the season as he faced 22 shots. Irbe, who had not won at home since Jan. 30, robbed John Druce point blank late in the second period and had some additional luck with several King forwards missing open nets.

With nine games remaining, the Sharks have 34 points, one point in front of the ninth-place Kings. By winning Sunday, seventh-place Dallas has 36 points. Just behind the Kings (13-19-7) are Winnipeg with 32 points and Anaheim with 30.

“Let’s face it, there are only nine games left,” said King right wing Rick Tocchet, who returned after sitting out five consecutive games because of a strained lower back.

“I’d say we have to win six of nine. Is that good enough in this conference?”

The seriousness of the Kings’ situation is the reason for Tocchet’s presence. If a playoff spot was secure, he could afford to rest and strengthen his injured back. Tocchet said his back felt sore after Sunday’s game, but he would try to play tonight in Calgary.

“Any guy would do the same thing,” he said. “I’m no martyr. . . . I didn’t do any skating for two weeks. Now I know how my friends feel playing Friday night hockey in the beer league. A couple of times I couldn’t push Jim Kyte out of the way in front.”

Any lift the Kings received from the return of Tocchet and Druce wasn’t obvious. The Kings mustered three shots in the first period and six in the second. By then, the Sharks were leading, 1-0, on enforcer Jeff Odgers’ goal with 36.4 seconds remaining in the first period.

Taking a pass from Kevin Miller, Odgers moved through the circle and shifted the puck to his backhand side after King goaltender Kelly Hrudey came out to challenge him. Odgers flipped it past Hrudey for only his third goal in 39 games.

The other Shark goal was scored by right wing Sergei Makarov at 7:00 of third period, his sixth of the season.

“In the dressing room before the game, everyone was nervous and uptight,” Odgers said. “To say it was the biggest game of the year would be an understatement. . . . It’s ours to lose. That’s a great position to be in.”

Said King defenseman Marty McSorley: “It should have felt like (a playoff game), but they did a good job of taking away the flow. It was tough to get the flow going. Our guys never quit. Unfortunately, we didn’t push the puck across the goal line.”

Wayne Gretzky, who hasn’t scored in four games, had a handful of scoring chances and five shots on goal.

“I think what’s affected Wayne is (Tony) Granato being hurt,” King Coach Barry Melrose said.

Irbe thwarted Gretzky late in the game after the Kings pulled Hrudey for an extra attacker. Irbe went on to make a series of saves in earning his seventh career shutout. It marked a turnaround in his confidence, a change that started in a victory against Chicago last week.

“It took awhile, but now I have peace of mind,” Irbe said. “I get back my necessary feelings.”

Irbe knew he would play well, saying he received an indication earlier Sunday.

“It’s my secret,” he said. “I cannot tell you or give you a clue. Maybe I can tell you when my career is over.”