Sharks 2, Blue Jackets 1
Captain Joe Thornton scored in his 500th game with San Jose and the Sharks won their third straight game by defeating the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday.
After making 13 consecutive starts, goaltender Antti Niemi gave way to Thomas Greiss, who made 23 saves to improve to 5-4-0 on the season.
The Sharks improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine games.
Thornton gave San Jose a 2-1 lead after two periods when he swatted a rebound from Patrick Marleau’s point shot past Curtis Sanford for his eighth goal of the season.
Sanford was the star for the Blue Jackets as he turned aside 37 of 39 shots.
Vinny Prospal for Columbus and Ryane Clowe on the power play for the Sharks each scored their eighth goals of the season in the opening period.
Clowe’s marker came when he got his stick on a loose puck in the crease that was full of heavy traffic.
Jason Demers assisted on both San Jose goals.