VAL DISERE, France -- On a day dominated by veterans, 34-year-old Mario Matt won his 14th World Cup slalom race to equal his Austrian countryman Benjamin Raichs mark while 35-year-old Patrick Thaler of Italy got on the podium for first time in nearly five years. Matt, a two-time former slalom world champion, safely protected his first-run lead while other contenders struggled on the notoriously tough Stade Olympique de Bellevarde course. "The last two years I was a few times on the podium, but always had some small mistakes on the runs and didnt win," Matt said. "I dont have the feeling Im old. Sometimes I have the problems with the back but I already had this eight years ago, and when I dont have the problems I feel fine." He beat Swedens Mattias Hargin by 0.53 seconds and Thaler -- second after the first run -- by 0.78 for his 15th overall World Cup win, with the other coming in supercombined. "You have to push your limits in order to win but I was still surprised how fast I was in the first run," Matt said. "I think no one felt too comfortable, but at least in the second run the first part felt really good so I cant complain." Matt was second in the slalom at Levi, Finland, last month and his most recent previous win was at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, in March 2011, while his first was nearly 14 years ago at Kitzbuehel, Austria. "We trained in great conditions this fall, so thats maybe why I am in good shape this early in the season," he said. It was another disappointing day for the United States when for the second straight day neither Ted Ligety, who finished the first run in 39th, nor Bode Miller, who went off course, qualified for the second run. They failed to finish the first run in Saturdays giant slalom. "It was tough conditions where it was very hard snow but very grippy," U.S. mens head coach Sasha Rearick said. "We have been trying on ice getting ready for Val dIsere, but we didnt make that transition very well today. So thats something were going to have to work on." They next head to Italy to prepare for Saturdays downhill at Val Gardena and Sundays giant slalom at Alta Badia. "It makes for a kind of interesting week, because youve got glidy, glidy, glidy at Val Garcena and youve got to be on your A game, clean skiing, for Alta Badia," Rearick said. Austrian Marcel Hirscher also failed to qualify. He won Saturdays GS but struggled on the tricky top section and finished way down in 41st. Matt, the slalom world champion in 2001 and 07, is coming into form at just the right time for Februarys Winter Olympics in Sochi. "Its still far away," Matt said. Hargin secured his first podium since finishing third at Schladming, Austria, in January 2011. "Ive been fighting a lot and it meant a lot to get the podium today," the 28-year-old said. "Weve worked really hard and we have a new coach this season." Thalers only other podium -- also third in a slalom at Kitzbuehel, Austria -- was even longer ago, in January 2009. "I think Im the oldest guy ever on the podium in the slalom," he said. "I was a bit emotional." Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Grange finished fourth, 0.04 behind Thaler, and Swedens Markus Larsson was fifth in a far-from-usual top five. Hirscher was aiming for a second consecutive podium double after winning last years GS and finishing third in the slalom, but he made a huge error on the top section and finished 4 seconds slower than Matt after an early-morning first run under clear, blue skies but with temperatures bitingly cold. After failing to make a GS second run for the first time in nearly five years, Ligety was 3.59 slower than Matt. Miller almost fell on the treacherous top section, recovered, but then lost control. Frenchman Alexis Pinturault --fourth in GS -- went off course near the bottom, while Austrias Manfred Pranger also veered off. On a brighter note for the Americans, David Chodounsky finished seventh for a career best slalom performance. "Val dIsere is really tough, steep," the 29-year-old said. "I was really happy with my first run, didnt quite have the confidence to go at it, but it was solid." Cheap Lakers Jerseys . Paire broke Giraldo twice and lost his serve once in both sets to wrap up the win in 1 hour, 10 minutes. He will next face Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, who advanced when Jurgen Zopp of Estonia retired with an injury at 5-5 in the first set. James Worthy Lakers Jersey . Saltalamacchia has agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Miami Marlins, two people familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/1891j-kyle-kuzma-jersey-lakers.html . 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Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night.GLENDALE, Ariz. - The San Jose Sharks had been trying to get Joe Pavelski to 40 goals for three games, looking for him at every chance, sending extra passes his way. Pavelski got No. 40 out of the way quickly against Phoenix and the Sharks got through a difficult game for a nice post-season tune-up to boot. Pavelski had two goals to become the fourth player in team history with 40 goals in a season and San Jose closed out the regular season with a 3-2 win over the Coyotes on Saturday night. "It was nice it comes right away in the game," Pavelski said of goal No. 40. "I could feel everyone try to pass to me, so its cool, but the win obviously is nice going into the playoffs. Guys feel good about themselves." The Sharks wrapped up a playoff spot more than three weeks ago and already had their first-round matchup set up, so there wasnt much to gain against the playing-out-the-string Coyotes. Pavelski knocked out his milestone on a power play 3:43 into the game and added No. 41 midway through to join Owen Nolan, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau in San Joses 40-goal club. The rest of the game was ugly at times, filled with turnovers and mistakes, but the Sharks found a way to grind out a victory before getting a rematch against the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs. Logan Couture scored, Dan Boyle had a pair of assists and Antti Niemi stopped 30 shots, including Shane Doan on a breakaway late in the third period for San Jose. "This one was a tough to watch and be part of, the turnovers, the casualness, it was kind of a no-hitter from both teams, which benefited us, obviously, to stay healthy," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "Im glad this ones over and we can focus on playing playoff hockey." The Coyotes have limped to the end of the season and are ready for it to just end after being knocking out of playoff contention Friday night. Goalie Mark Visentin gave up two goals in the opening 10 minutes of his NHL debut before settling down, stopping 29 shots. Phoenix generated some good scoring chances, yet couldnt capitalize on most of them, stretching their losing streak to seven games. Mike Ribeiro and Doan scored for the Coyotes, who have not won since March 27. "We want to beat everybody and just end this stupid streak," Doan said. The Sharks locked up their playoff spoot on March 24 and already know theyll face the Kings in the opening round, so the finale was little more than a tuneup.dddddddddddd The Coyotes had been hoping this would be the deciding weekend for their post-season hopes. They never got to it. Despite Dallas inability to run away with the Wests final playoff spot, Phoenix couldnt make up ground, losing six straight games until the Stars wrapped up their place in the post-season by beating Colorado on Friday night. With nothing but pride left to play for and Mike Smith sidelined for the ninth straight game, the Coyotes decided to give Visentin his shot at the big time. The 27th overall pick of the 2010 NHL draft, he went 14-19-5 with a 3.30 goals-against average in 44 games with Portland of the AHL. His NHL debut did not go well early. Visentin was caught out of position on a power play early in the first period and Pavelski whipped a wrister past him on a short rush. Pavelski beat him again midway through the period, squeezing a shot from the short side past his stick side. Visentin settled his nerves after that, making some tough saves in traffic. Couture scored 38 seconds into the third period, but needed a nifty, between-the-legs-redirect after a turnover by Phoenixs Kyle Chipchura to beat him. "They werent the greatest of goals, but at the end of the day you just have to put it behind you," Visentin said. "The biggest thing was basically resetting between periods and coming out with a fresh mindset." Ribeiro scored midway through the second period, taking a pass from Radim Vrbata, waiting until Niemi committed, then flipping a shot that went off the inside of the goalies glove arm into the net. Coutures goal put San Jose up 3-1, but Doan cut the lead back to one quickly, beating Niemi on a one-timer from the right faceoff dot 44 seconds later. That was it for the Coyotes, though, leaving them with one more chance to end their losing streak while sending the Sharks into the playoffs with an extra dose of confidence. NOTES: The Coyotes close out the regular season against Dallas at home on Sunday. ... Sharks D Scott Hannan did not make the trip to Arizona after taking a hard hit from Colorados Patrick Bordeleau on Friday night. ... RW Mike Brown also stayed home with his wife due to deliver their baby. ... Ribeiros goal was his second in 24 games. ' ' '