Hurricanes 5, Sharks 2
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Left winger Jeff Skinner scored two third-period goals and goalie Cam Ward has now gone 10 straight starts without a regulation loss as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Friday night.
Ward, returning to the lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury, improved to 6-0-4 in his last 10 games as the Hurricanes (27-22-10) moved within two points of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 23 games remaining.
Meanwhile, the red-hot Sharks (31-21-5) -- the second-best road team in the NHL with 20 wins -- lost in regulation for just the third time in their last 19 games dating to Jan. 9.
Skinner, the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft and former Calder Trophy winner as the league's rookie of the year, now has a team-leading 21 goals and at least 20 in four of his six NHL seasons.
Carolina captain Eric Staal, in a massive offensive slump, set up Skinner's first score for his first point in eight games. The goal was initially disallowed but then overturned on a coaching challenge from Bill Peters.
San Jose closed to 3-2 with 9:22 left when Ward misplayed the puck behind his net, setting up a tap-in for center Tomas Hertl's 12th goal of the season before Skinner iced it on a rebound goal with 4:28 remaining. Skinner's seven game-winning goals are tied for third in the league.
Carolina took a 2-1 lead into the third period after left winger Joakim Nordstrom scored his sixth goal of the season with 7:35 left in a second period in which the Hurricanes outshot the Sharks 19-4.
Center Jordan Staal produced his team-leading 22nd assist by setting up Nordstrom, who has nine points in the last 11 games. Staal added an empty-net goal with 2:25 left.
Carolina's fourth line struck first seven minutes in as left winger Chris Terry deflected a shot from the high slot past a screened Jones for his fifth goal of the season.
Seven minutes later, the Sharks took advantage of Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin falling down on the rush as Brent Burns beat Ward with a shot against the grain as he trailed the play. Burns leads NHL defenseman with 19 goals despite scoring for the first time since Jan. 11.
NOTES: With the trade deadline approaching, eight teams were scouting this game. ... Carolina All-Star D Justin Faulk missed his fifth straight game with a lower-body injury. He is listed as day to day and could suit up Sunday against Tampa Bay. ... Since Jan. 1, the Hurricanes rank third in the NHL (88 percent) on the penalty kill. ... San Jose is nearing the end of a stretch in which nine of 11 games have been on the road. St. Louis and Colorado round out the current five-game trip. ... San Jose LW Patrick Marleau played in his 504th straight game. He is one of only 22 players in NHL history to log more than 500 consecutive games. ... C Jordan Staal took over the Carolina scoring lead (35 points) for the first time this season on Thursday night.