The San Jose Sharks are out for revenge in the opening round of the playoffs, as they attempt to knock out the team that eliminated them from last springs postseason. The Sharks have home-ice advantage this time against the Los Angeles Kings, who are visiting the SAP Center for Thursdays Game 1 battle between the Pacific Division rivals. This marks the third all-time playoff meeting between these clubs and second in a row. The Kings gutted out a low-scoring seven-game victory in last seasons second round, one that left the franchise spent ahead of a five-game loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the conference finals. San Jose lost the first two games of last years playoff matchup versus Los Angeles before rallying to get back into the set. The Sharks defeated L.A. in six games in the 2011 conference quarterfinals. That was the last time the Kings, who won the franchises first Stanley Cup title in 2012, were knocked out in the first round. These California rivals played a close five-game season series in 2013-14, with the Kings owning a 3-1-1 edge. The teams combined for just 21 goals and skated in four games decided by a single goal. Kings netminder Jonathan Quick won both of his games this season versus the Sharks, giving up just three goals, and is 11-4-5 versus them in the regular season lifetime as well as 6-7 in the playoffs with a 2.25 goals against average and three shutouts. Quick, the 2012 Conn Smythe winner, has excellent career playoff numbers, going 29-21 with a .929 save percentage and 2.03 in 50 lifetime postseason appearances. Like Quick, the Sharks boast a goaltender with a Stanley Cup-winning resume in Antti Niemi, who won a title with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. However, the 30-year-old Finn was less impressive in his first two appearances in the playoffs with the Sharks before a solid run in 2013. Niemi went 7-4 with a 1.87 goals against average and .930 save percentage lasts spring as the Sharks swept their first-round series before a tight seven-game loss to the Kings. San Joses No. 1 has had his struggles down the stretch this season, perhaps the result of having played in 64 games, and hell have backup Alex Stalock hovering over his shoulder. Niemi went 2-1-1 with a 2.67 GAA in this seasons series, while Stalock lost his only start despite giving up just one goal. Niemi is 6-6 in the playoffs against the Kings with a 2.74 GAA and .897 save percentage. Although Sharks head coach Todd McLellan would not officially reveal his starter for Game 1, all signs point to Niemi getting the call over Stalock. Both the Kings and Sharks are deep at both ends of the ice, but L.A. uses its depth more for defense than offense. The Kings allowed an NHL-best 2.05 goals per game this season, but were ranked 26th in offense (2.42 gpg). San Jose had a balanced attack, placing fifth in the league with 2.35 goals against per contest while tying St. Louis for sixth in scoring (2.92 gpg). Both teams enter this playoff battle without many injuries to note. Kings No. 1 defenseman Drew Doughty is dealing with a bruised left shoulder, but he expects to play in Game 1. The Sharks, meanwhile, saw forward Tomas Hertl return late in the regular season from a knee injury. Hertl missed over three months of action and 45 games after L.A. captain Dustin Brown delivered a knee-on-knee hit on the Czech rookie. Hertl had 15 goals and 10 assists in 37 games this season and is hoping to prove himself in his first NHL postseason. San Jose was 29-7-5 as the home team this season and will host Game 2 on Sunday. The Kings were 23-14-4 as the visiting club in 2013-14. 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Brown Jersey . -- Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf has been suspended two games for his hit from behind on Kevan Miller of the Bruins.MELBOURNE, Australia - India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from test cricket on Tuesday, ending a 90-test career shortly after his side drew the third match with Australia.The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced Dhonis decision on Twitter, adding that Virat Kohli would captain India in the fourth test starting next Tuesday in Sydney.The 33-year-old Dhoni, was captained the team 60 times, made no mention of his intention to retire during a lengthy and jovial news conference immediately after Tuesdays match.In a later statement, the BCCI said Dhoni has retired from test cricket to concentrate on the shorter limited-overs and Twenty20 formats of the game.One of Indias greatest test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the test rankings, M.S. Dhoni, has decided to retire from test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket, the statement said.Dhoni was batting on 24 at the end of the third test as he helped hold off the Australian bowling attack to earn the draw.He has come under increasing scrutiny for his captaincy in the series against Australia, which the home side clinched Tuesday with a 2-0 lead.A wicketkeeper-batsman, Dhoni made his test debut against Sri Lanka in Chennai in 2005, a year after playing his first one-dayer. He has since scored 4,876 runs at an average of 38.09 with six centuries and 33 half-centuries.Dhoni has also taken 256 catches and 38 stumpings, as well as becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to take nine dismissals in a match — achieved in the just completed third test.Dhoni took over from Rahul Dravid as India captain in 2007 and ledd the side to 27 wins, 18 losses and 15 draws.ddddddddddddHe was also in charge when India assumed the No. 1 test ranking in 2009, which it held for two years.Wriddhiman Saha is to be named India wicketkeeper for the fourth test after standing in for the injured Dhoni in the first test in Adelaide.BCCI while respecting the decision of M.S. Dhoni to retire from test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India, the BCCI statement said.Dhoni is enormously popular in India and was this year ranked by Forbes magazine at 22nd in its list of the worlds highest paid athletes, with estimated total earnings at $30 million, mostly from endorsements.Former India great Sachin Tendulkar was among those who praised Dhoni on Twitter.Well done on a wonderful career in test cricket @msdhoni. Always enjoyed playing together. Next target 2015 WC my friend!! wrote Tendulkar, referring to next years Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in which Dhoni will likely play.Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted Love the way @msdhoni plays the game ... But its now the right time for @imVkohli to take the Indian Test team in a new direction.....Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said during the Melbourne test that he wondered whether Dhoni was still able to bring out the best in his test teammates.Its not just these two matches, its for a while now, Ganguly said. He just hasnt really got the team going at test-match level. The record he has in one-day cricket, hes a good captain. But in test conditions overseas, its just fallen away a bit. 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