Niklas Sundstrom says Mike Ricci is the best center with whom he's ever played. Sundstrom, of course, broke in with the New York Rangers and was a linemate of Wayne Gretzky's, a pretty fair center in his own right.

Sundstrom winks, then adds, "Make sure to get that in."

Scott Thornton is asked to explain his recent propensity to score goals, but breaks out in laughter when it's suggested he's the finisher on the line.

Ricci is usually the one with all the jokes. But he has competition these days. That's how it goes when the Sharks' hardest-working line is clicking on and off the ice.

"They're an identity line -- you know what you're going to get," said coach Darryl Sutter.

Right now, the Sharks need to find their way out of a stretch that's netted one win in eight games. With eight of its next nine games against conference opponents -- as the past six have been against -- San Jose needs positive results, and it needs them now.

The Sundstrom-Ricci-Thornton "Chemistry Line" is a good bet to lead the way,

JOHN TODD

never mind their label as a third line. If one group best defines how the Sharks want to play -- in your face, relentless, responsible at both ends of the ice and successful -- it's this combination. That's the way it has been since the trio was formed after the first game last year.

"When they're on offensively, I don't think there's a better all-around line, period," Sutter said.

While the Sharks have sputtered for the past two weeks, it could be worse if not for the line's contributions. What they produce doesn't always show up on the scoresheet.

Ricci's line often starts a game and the subsequent periods as long as the Sharks are skating 5-on-5. That's not because Sutter expects a goal from the combination; rather, they are the most consistent at setting the tone for what the Sharks want to do: start fast, start hard and provide momentum for the next line on the ice.

"They play so well as a group when they're going," Sutter said. "To be quite honest, I've been disappointed in myself not to play them more together."

Individually, all three bring different assets to the line.

Acquired from Colorado early in the 1997-'98 campaign, Ricci has become an iron-man performer, fulfilling needs at different times as a No. 1, 2 or 3 center. The 30-year-old is versatile as far as killing penalties, standing in front of the net on the power play and faceoffs.

Although relatively small -- listed at 6 feet and a seemingly generous 190 pounds -- Ricci goes into heavy traffic, with or without the puck, and comes out with results. Off to a slow start with two goals and nine points, Ricci eclipsed the 20-goal plateau in each of the past two years in San Jose for the first time since scoring 30 with Quebec in 1993-'94.

Sundstrom, traded from the Rangers before the '99-'00 season, is a two-way winger who can play anywhere but has settled in on the right side in San Jose. Always looking to pass before taking his shot, the 26-year-old Swede is clever around the net and also available to use in all situations. The 6-foot, 200- pound Sundstrom has three goals and eight points, so he is short of matching his first two seasons with the Sharks -- 10 goals, 49 points last season; 12 goals, 37 points before that.

Thornton, signed as a free agent before last season, provides the final piece for the line. At 6-3, 216 pounds, the 30-year-old gives his linemates space and has developed a scoring touch after being labeled early in his career as nothing more than a fourth-line banger. He is tied for second on the team with seven goals, has the best shooting accuracy (22 percent) and is fifth with 40 hits.

Altogether, it's San Jose's most consistent line. Still, there's room for improvement.

"All three of us weren't very good early," Ricci said. "In fact, you're hoping it couldn't get any worse. It was only going to get better, I guess. We all understand what we have to do in our own zone, so we work hard at it.

"We can all agree we're doing it better, but we're still not there where we want to be."