Defenseman Justin Braun celebrated his 25th birthday with a goal and an assist while Benn Ferriero snapped a tie in the third period as the San Jose Sharks skated to a 5-3 home victory over the slumping Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Defenseman Dan Boyle, captain Joe Thornton and Jamie McGinn also scored and blue-liner Brent Burns collected three assists for San Jose, which went 3 for 6 on the power play en route to its sixth win in eight home contests.
Marcus Kruger scored twice and Bryan Bickell added a goal for Chicago, which fell to 0-4-1 on its nine-game road trip. The Blackhawks have lost nine straight away from home and seven in a row overall.
After Bickell forged a 3-3 tie less than 2 1/2 minutes into the third with his fifth goal of the season, Ferriero put the Sharks ahead for good 3:25 later. Brad Winchester made a pass from below the end line to Ferriero, who beat Corey Crawford from the doorstep.
The goal was Ferriero's seventh of the season, four of which have been game-winners.
McGinn converted a power-play chance with less than six minutes remaining to create some breathing room. Burns helped set up the goal, giving him eight assists in his last four games.
San Jose cashed in during a pair of power plays in the first period to take a 2-0 lead.
Braun opened the scoring just 1:58 into the game. All-Star Logan Couture made a backhand pass from behind the net to Braun, who beat Crawford from alone in the left faceoff circle for his second of the campaign.
Boyle doubled the advantage midway through the session when he put the rebound of Couture's shot past Crawford from the right circle.
Kruger drew Chicago even in the second period with his first career two-goal performance.
Defenseman Nick Leddy's blast from the blue line rang off the left post, and Kruger knocked in the loose puck from the top of the crease at 6:55. Exactly three minutes later, Kruger backhanded a rebound past former Blackhawk Antti Niemi from the doorstep for his fifth tally.