Kings Miss Chance To Clinch Playoff Bid; Crushed In SJ

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist to give him 999 career points and help the San Jose Sharks clinch their fourth straight Pacific Division title with a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.

Kyle Wellwood added a goal and two assists, and defensemen Dan Boyle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored for the Sharks, who won for the eighth time in nine games.

Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi also scored as San Jose moved one point past Detroit for second place in the Western Conference with 103 points with three games remaining.

Michal Handzus scored the lone goal for the Kings, who lost for the second time in seven games and missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth.

Los Angeles remained tied for fourth in the West with Phoenix.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)