Sharks 5, Canucks 1
Rookie Chris Tierney scored his first career goal and Daniil Tarasov notched an assist in his NHL debut as visiting San Jose halted its brief two-game skid.
Defenseman Matt Irwin, Joe Pavelski, rookie Melker Karlsson and Andrew Desjardins also tallied for the Sharks, who posted their first win in three meetings with Vancouver this season. Logan Couture and All-Star blue-liner Brent Burns each recorded two assists, Tierney added one for his first two-point performance and Antti Niemi made 33 saves.
All-Star Radim Vrbata scored for the Canucks, who fell to 2-3-0 on their six-game homestand. Ryan Miller turned aside 33 shots in falling to 9-2-0 lifetime versus the Sharks.
San Jose gave Niemi the only offensive support he needed with 2:17 remaining in the first period, when Irwin unleashed a shot from the outer edge of the left faceoff circle that caromed off the right post and in. Karlsson doubled the lead at 6:24 of the second by deflecting Burns' shot from the right point past Miller.
Pavelski was credited with his 28th goal during a two-man advantage with 15 seconds left in the session as his cross-slot pass attempt from the left circle inadvertently was deflected past Miller by Vancouver's Nick Bonino. Tierney made it 4-0 when he tipped Burns' wrister from the right point 3:55 into the third before Vrbata reached the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in his career - and spoiled Niemi's bid for his fifth shutout of the season and second in three games - with a blast from the right circle with 1:57 remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Canucks had a goal waved off with less than seven minutes left in the second period as it was ruled LW Alex Burrows intentionally knocked the puck into the net with his glove. ... Pavelski's goal was his 15th on the power play, putting him one ahead of Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the league lead. ... Vancouver has allowed the first goal in each of its last six contests.