Sharks 2, Penguins 1 (SO)
Tommy Wingels scored the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout as San Jose won for the second time in its last 11 home games (2-7-2).
Pittsburgh rookie Derrick Pouliot nearly ended the encounter late in overtime, but his bid from the right faceoff circle glanced off the far post. Sharks rookie Melker Karlsson and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang each converted in the third round of the bonus format and Wingels atoned for a late delay-of-game penalty by using a brilliant deke before backhanding the puck inside the left post.
Antti Niemi made 39 saves before being beaten just once on eight attempts in the shootout to improve to 4-1-1 lifetime versus Pittsburgh. Matt Nieto scored late in the first period for his third goal in three games for San Jose, which has won three of its last four overall.
Captain Sidney Crosby scored in the third period and Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 29 shots for the Penguins, who fell to 0-9-2 with one tie at San Jose since posting a 5-2 win on Oct. 22, 1997. Pittsburgh failed on all three power-play opportunities and finished 0-for-12 on the four-game road trip.
Despite being outshot 15-6 in the opening session, San Jose skated away with a 1-0 lead as rookie Chris Tierney's pass from behind the net was shoveled home by Nieto with 57 seconds remaining in the period. Crosby was unable to convert from the right doorstep late in the second but forged a tie 7:22 into the third by skating in on a partial breakaway and backhanding a shot under the right arm of Niemi.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Crosby's goal was his first in seven career meetings with San Jose, leaving St. Louis as the only team against which he hasn't tallied. ... Sharks C Joe Pavelski saw his five-game point streak come to a halt. He collected one goal and five assists during that run. ... Pittsburgh RW Steve Downie was whistled for a pair of infractions, increasing his league-leading total in penalty minutes to 195.