When we last saw the San Jose Sharks, they were getting skated off the ice in the Stanley Cup finals by a Pittsburgh Penguins team that was faster, deeper and more than San Jose could handle in a long series.The sour ending overshadowed a remarkable run by the Sharks, one that saw them return to Western Conference power status. That was further underlined by the strong presence of San Jose players on Canadas World Cup team, where Joe Thornton, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Logan Couture all played important roles.NHL history hasnt been kind to the Stanley Cup runner-up. Its hard to climb that mountain, get knocked off and then begin that long climb again.The Lightning did well to get to the Eastern Conference finals last year, but they certainly had their regular-season issues along the way.Guys are excited to get back and get this season started, said Couture. There was a sense of disappointment once it ended. Throughout the summer, talking to guys, everyone is just excited to get back and get going again.They have a full season under coach Peter DeBoer, so there should be a heightened comfort level in his system. They also will be playing with the confidence that comes on the heels of a long playoff run, one that included a payback series against the rival?Los Angeles Kings.The Pacific is wide open, and the Sharks are best built to take advantage.Best new facesThe Sharks used team speed to beat the?St. Louis Blues?in the Western Conference finals but didnt quite have enough to match up with the Penguins. The addition of Mikkel Boedker helps address that. Boedker is a great skater who adds to an already-deep group of forwards in San Jose.We got better this summer, Couture said. [Boedker] is a quick guy. We played against him a lot in our division. Hes going to help our power play. Hes going to add speed and depth. Hes going to push guys down in the lineup where we can have an edge in matchups.It was a nice signing by GM Doug Wilson, similar to the unheralded additions of Joel Ward and Paul Martin the previous offseason.The addition of David Schlemko on defense was another quiet but effective addition. Hell bring mobility and puck-moving to the bottom end of the Sharks defense.Biggest unknownsLike the Lightning -- runners-up in 2015-16 -- before them, the Sharks have contract issues to resolve, and you just know how thats going to impact play on the ice. Defenseman Brent Burns?is a dynamic defenseman who has emerged as one of the best in the league -- but he needs a new deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.?Wilson has traditionally gotten his core players to stay in San Jose at a discounted rate and very reasonable terms. As other general managers were giving out crazy, decade-long deals to their players when that was allowed under the previous CBA, guys like Thornton and Patrick Marleau instead signed team-friendly deals to keep the Sharks competitive.Both Marleau and Thornton are also entering the last years of their contracts. The expectation is that Thornton wont be going anywhere, but Marleaus status isnt quite as clear.Sure thingsLets make this section a Marc-Edouard Vlasic appreciation. He got some love during the Stanley Cup finals and occasionally his game was highlighted during the World Cup, but when you play with a wildman like Brent Burns, you tend to get overlooked.Vlasic is a sure thing. DeBoer knows what hes getting every night from Vlasic and sends him out on the hardest assignments every game. Vlasic and Justin Braun face the toughest competition and still control the play a majority of the time. The Sharks controlled 52.7 percent of the even-strength shot attempts when those two were on the ice together last season.Vlasics presence frees up Burns to play against slightly easier competition, usually starting in the offensive zone. Vlasic, meanwhile, started just 42.8 percent of his even-strength shifts in the offensive zone. Hes invaluable to the Sharks.Hes, in my mind, the best shutdown guy in our conference and I think the NHL, Couture said. Hes just a quiet player and he plays that effortless quiet game.PredictionThe Sharks are going to win the Pacific and enter the postseason as a favorite to represent the Western Conference again in the Stanley Cup finals. Joe Thornton is winding down his career and this is a team capable of giving him a real shot at finally hoisting the Stanley Cup. First in the Pacific;?Stanley Cup finalists. Cheap China Jerseys . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. China Jerseys . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. http://www.chinanfljerseyscheaponline.com/ . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. Wholesale China Jerseys . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. ATLANTA -- Brian Snitker described Tyrell Jenkins fourth-inning collapse as a rookies growing pains.Even so, it was difficult for the interim manager and Braves fans to watch.Jenkins was impressive for three innings before giving up eight runs in the fourth, and Atlantas late comeback fell short in an 11-9 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.Jenkins (2-4) gave up nine runs while lasting only 3 1/3 innings.Unfortunately, it just got out of hand, Jenkins said. It was tough. ... Going into the fourth it just kind of unraveled.The Braves led 3-1 after three innings, and Jenkins retired the Nationals in order in the third.I thought the way the first three innings went the kid was going to go seven innings, Snitker said. His stuff was crisp, his location was good, and then his stuff wasnt so good, location wasnt so good. It kind of completely turned upside down pretty much.Its just part of a young pitchers plight trying to get to where they want to go.Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner hit homers in Washingtons big fourth inning. Ryan Zimmerman also homered among his three hits in his return from the disabled list.Washington set a Nationals record with nine hits in the inning, including eight straight, and had 17 hits in the game.Max Scherzer (13-7) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, regrouping after giving up three runs in the second.Mark Melancon gave up a two-run single to Chase dArnaud, cutting the lead to two, before recording the final out for his 36th save.Adonis Garcia had a two-run double in Atlantas three-run second. Jeff Francoeur drove in a run with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded single off Matt Belisle in the eighth. Koda Glover gave up three runs in the ninth before giving way to Melancon.Nationals manager Dusty Baker applauded the spirit the last-place Braves showed with their five runs in the last two innings.Youve got to give those guys over there credit, Baker saiid.dddddddddddd. They dont quit. They keep fighting and fighting. ... Most teams if they were where they are now, this time of year, their spirit would be broken. Theyve got a lot of spirit over there.The first-place Nationals have won the first three games of this series and are 11-1 against the Braves this season.Murphy led off the fourth with his 23rd homer, caught by a fan wearing a red Bryce Harper jersey on the first row of the right-field seats. Turner added a three-run homer off Jenkins.Even Scherzer joined the fun with a run-scoring single in the fourth.Scherzer beat out an infield hit in the seventh to drive in another run.Anthony Rendon had four hits and scored three runs.DANSBYS DAY OFFBraves rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, had his first break from the starting lineup since being called up on Wednesday.Just pick and choose, really, Snitker said of the decision. He doesnt need to go out there every day. Its going to be a big enough acclimation to the major leagues.BIGGER INNINGThe nine hits in the fourth were the most for the Nationals/Expos franchise since Montreal had 13 hits and scored 13 runs in the sixth inning of a 19-3 win over San Francisco on May 7, 1997.TRAINERS ROOMThe Nationals also reinstated catcher Jose Lobaton from the DL. He Lobaton has been out since July 20 with left elbow tendinitis. Right-hander A.J. Cole and catcher Pedro Severino were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.UP NEXTNationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez will look for his 100th career win in the finale of the four-game series. Gonzalez threw six scoreless innings but received no decision in his only other start of the season against Atlanta, a 2-1 Nationals win on April 12.Braves: Joel De La Cruz (0-6) will make his first start against Washington. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '