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SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mike Rathje has been with the Sharks since 1993, when he was 19 and the team was terrible. Now San Jose is in the West final for the first time in its 13-year franchise history. And Rathje is enjoying it as much as the team's loyal fans.
"It's just great for the people who live here and love the Sharks," Rathje said. "We've had some successes, but we've never been really close to the Stanley Cup. Hopefully, this is the year we change all that."
Just a year after missing the playoffs, the Sharks won their division. Then they dispatched St. Louis and Colorado in the playoffs, losing just three games.
The Sharks finished off the Avalanche with a 3-1 victory in Denver on Tuesday and face Calgary and former coach Darryl Sutter on Sunday in the series opener.
"This is unbelievable for all the players on our team, especially for the guys who have been here a number of times," said Sharks coach Ron Wilson, who masterminded the Sharks' turnaround. "Whether it's Rathje, (Scott) Hannan, (Brad) Stuart, they've been beaten by Colorado before. This is a great thing for everybody in San Jose because the people there deserve it."
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Oilers goalie Ty Conklin posted a shutout in the shootout, and Andy Roach's goal put the United States in the semifinals with an upset of the host Czech Republic in Prague.
After the teams tied 2-2, the first four shooters for each team missed. Then Roach, a defenseman who plays in the German league, made a left-to-right fake on Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun and stuffed the puck into the open net.
After Roach scored, Jiri Dopita shot wide.