Hlavac injured in Canucks-Sharks tie

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Jan Hlavac scored a goal and later injured his knee as the Vancouver Canucks tied the San Jose Sharks 2-2 Monday night in an exhibition game.

Hlavac was hurt on a knee-to-knee hit from San Jose defenseman Jeff Jillson at center ice early in the third period. Jillson got a game misconduct while Hlavac was helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his right knee.

Hlavac, who had 21 points for Vancouver last season after arriving in a midseason trade with Philadelphia, scored the Canucks' first goal against the Sharks midway through the second period.

Vancouver (4-2-1-0) already has lost forwards Matt Cooke and Artem Chubarov to injuries during preseason.

Jonathan Cheechoo, a two-time AHL All-Star trying to make San Jose's roster, scored the tying goal with less than nine minutes left for the Sharks, who drew a crowd of 10,326 at Arco Arena for the first NHL exhibition in California's capital since 1995.

Daniel Sedin also scored for Vancouver. Lynn Loyns scored for the Sharks, and Mike Rathje had two assists.

Vesa Toskala made 31 saves for San Jose (1-4-1-0), which hasn't won in four straight exhibition games. Dan Cloutier made 19 saves for Vancouver.

Teemu Selanne, captain Owen Nolan, Patrick Marleau and Mike Ricci were among several veteran scratches for San Jose. Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Mattias Ohlund didn't play for Vancouver.

The Sharks still don't have top goaltender Evgeni Nabokov or defenseman Brad Stuart in camp. The restricted free agents are both holding out, and general manager Dean Lombardi says the talks with both are at an impasse.

 

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