Sharks 3, Canucks 2 (SO)
Michal Handzus scored in the third round of the shootout and Antti Niemi denied all three attempts as the San Jose Sharks skated to a 3-2 road triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
Patrick Marleau and Benn Ferriero scored during a 17-shot second period for San Jose, which defeated Vancouver for the first time in three meetings this season and improved to 3-7-2 in its last 12 outings versus the Canucks.
Niemi, who turned aside 27 shots, denied Alex Burrows and Cody Hodgson in the shootout before Ryan Kesler's attempt caromed off the post in the third round.
Handzus ended the contest after skating in and using his forehand to lift the puck under the crossbar.
San Jose's Torrey Mitchell nearly won the game in regulation but his snap shot from the slot beat Roberto Luongo just a few tenths of a second after the whistle.
With Ryane Clowe in the penalty box for a holding penalty, Vancouver's top-ranked power play made San Jose pay with 8:25 remaining in the third period. Defenseman Dan Hamhuis controlled the puck along the boards before feeding Hodgson, who one-timed a shot from the slot past Niemi to tie the game at 2-2.
Hodgson collected a goal and an assist, Jannik Hansen also tallied and Luongo finished with 33 saves for Vancouver.