Sharks 3, Wild 2
Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal to snap a tie exactly five minutes into the third period as the San Jose Sharks skated to a 3-2 home triumph over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Rookie Logan Couture netted his 27th goal of the season, Jamal Mayers also tallied and Joe Pavelski notched a pair of assists as Pacific Division-leading San Jose (41-23-8) recorded consecutive wins following a three-game skid.
With the triumph, the Sharks remained three points ahead of the Phoenix Coyotes (38-23-11) and five points above the Los Angeles Kings (40-26-5) in the division.
Making his 27th consecutive start, Antti Niemi turned aside 28 shots to improve to 3-0-0 in his career against the Wild.
After the teams traded goals in both the first and second periods, Marleau gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead with his club-leading 28th goal of the season. The tally was Marleau's fifth point in three games and 10th point in March.
John Madden netted a shorthanded goal in the first period and Kyle Brodziak also tallied for Minnesota (36-29-7), which has dropped four in a row.
Niklas Backstrom finished with 47 saves to suffer his sixth setback in seven outings.