Old Foe Returns to Haunt Ducks : Hockey: Loss is their first of season to Sharks, but this one may doom playoff chances.

Jamie Baker slipped past the defense, faked once and slid the puck into the net and a dagger into the Mighty Ducks’ playoff hopes Wednesday.

At 11:11 of the third period, Baker sent the Ducks reeling and made San Jose today’s favorite to grab the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. Baker’s goal put San Jose ahead, 4-2, en route to a 5-2 victory.

Oh, the Ducks still have an outside shot at postseason play. But so do the Sharks, Kings, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and maybe the Oakland Seals if they were still alive and playing in the NHL.

The race is just that close.

“We’re not out of it,” said center Bob Corkum, whose second-period goal brought the Ducks to within 3-2. “We’ve got to wake up tomorrow and get ready for L.A. on Sunday.”

By then the race could be over.

“We’ve got to rely on other teams and a little luck now,” Coach Ron Wilson said.

Said defenseman Dave Karpa: “Anything can happen. I don’t think we’re out of it at all.”

Wednesday’s favorite seemed to be the Kings, coming off a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings the night before.

Tuesday’s sharp-looking team appeared to be the Ducks, coming off a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames the night before.

Now, it’s San Jose, an old thorn for the Ducks thought to be at last subdued. Winners of six of six last season but well-beaten in four games this year, the Sharks returned to The Pond and came away winners.

The Duck haven’t given up hope, but if they do fail to advance to the playoffs they can hold their rivals from Northern California responsible.

Wilson is quick to fire salvos at the nearby Kings, helping ignite a pretty fair rivalry in almost two full seasons. But it’s the Sharks who have dealt the Ducks their most troubling losses.

Last season’s sweep effectively kept the first-year Ducks from qualifying for the playoffs and certainly posed the most visible blotch on what was a promising beginning.

Particularly troubling was a 6-0 San Jose victory late in the season. From there, the Sharks upset Detroit in the first round and gave Toronto fits in the second.

The Ducks licked their wounds and waited for the this season. Going into Wednesday, they had dominated the Sharks with two, 6-3, victories, a 5-4 win and a 3-0 shutout.

The mismatch had apparently turned in the Ducks favor.

Not so Wednesday.

“I don’t know what happened to be honest with you,” Corkum said. “Maybe we thought we’d have it easy because we had beaten them this season.”