SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Pavelski scored two power-play
goals, and the San Jose Sharks ended a four-game losing streak by beating the
Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Thursday night.
Tomas Hertl also scored on the power play for the Sharks,
who earned their first regulation victory at home since Nov. 29. Antti Niemi
stopped 28 shots to record his 17th victory.
Jonas Brodin scored for the Wild, who lost their fifth
straight on the road. Niklas Backstrom made 36 saves.
Backstrom fell to 1-9-1 in San Jose, and his 3.68
goals-against-average there is his second worst in any arena.
The Sharks went 3 for 7 on the power play after going 0 for
4 in a 3-1 loss to the Wild on Sunday. They scored four times in their previous
39 power plays.
San Jose took a 1-0 lead just 5:54 into the game. Pavelski
got the puck from Dan Boyle on the left side and bounced a shot into the net
past Backstrom.
The Sharks added another power-play goal with 5:17 left in
the first. Tommy Wingels drove down the right side, drawing the defense toward him,
before dropping the puck off for Hertl, who had a clear shot into the net.
During their four-game slide, the Sharks gave up a pair of
two-goal leads, including Tuesday's shootout loss to the New York Islanders.
Pavelski made it 3-0 at 3:42 of the second period on another
power play. Matt Irwin's shot bounced free, and Pavelski was there to drive it
home.
Joe Thornton's second assist of the game put him in sole
possession of 26th place on the NHL career assists list with 816.
Brodin scored with 7:24 remaining to bring the Wild within
3-1. His shot hit Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart and caromed past Niemi.
Ryan Suter recorded an assist for the second straight game
after going the previous eight without one.
