SAN JOSE, Calif. (Map, News) - Evgeni Nabokov just can't get enough hockey - not even after one of the busiest seasons for a goalie in NHL history.

Nabokov will join the Russian team at the world hockey championships this weekend after his San Jose Sharks were eliminated from the playoffs.

Nabokov played in a team-record 77 games during the NHL regular season, leading the league with 46 wins and finishing second with nearly 4,561 minutes of ice time. He then played in each of the Sharks' 13 playoff games, including the four-overtime, 129-minute loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday night that eliminated San Jose from the second round.

"As long as I'm injury-free, I feel fine and I want to keep playing," said Nabokov, a native of Kazakhstan who played well in his debut with the Russian Olympic team in Turin two years ago. "Sometimes even when you're tired, you're still fine to play."

Nabokov and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur are the top two candidates for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie. Nabokov was among the league leaders in every statistical category while falling just two wins shy of Brodeur's single-season NHL record.

The Russian team has been solid without Nabokov, winning its first three games in Group D play, but was eager to add Nabokov's experience.

"When they asked me how I feel, I said, 'Give me a day or two, and I'll be ready,'" said Nabokov, who will fly to Nova Scotia on Thursday with hopes of playing Saturday.

Three other Sharks will join their national teams for the tournament in Halifax. Defenseman Doug Murray will play for Sweden, while forward Marcel Goc and third-string goalie Dimitri Patzold will suit up for Germany.