Sharks 3, Ducks 1
Brent Burns recorded a goal and an assist as host San Jose extended its winning streak to four games while ending Anaheim's franchise-record run at 10 in the opener of a home-and-home series.
Logan Couture scored to end a seven-game point drought and Bracken Kearns tallied his first career goal for the Sharks, whose previous three victories came in shootouts. Antti Niemi turned aside 30 shots as San Jose improved to 9-0-1 in its last 10 home games.
Patrick Maroon had the lone goal for the Ducks, who also had their 13-game point streak (11-0-2) halted. Frederik Andersen made 20 saves for Anaheim, which fell to 0-1-1 against the Sharks this season.
San Jose wasted little time jumping ahead as Burns scored his 12th goal 1:17 into the contest. After being robbed at the left post by Andersen, Joe Pavelski grabbed his own rebound and skated behind the net before making a backhand pass to Burns, who beat the Danish netminder from the slot.
Burns helped double the Sharks' lead midway through the first period by making a chip pass from his own zone to Couture. The snake-bitten center proceeded to skate around Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin and finish a short breakaway by lifting a backhander past Andersen for his 100th NHL goal.
Kearns made it 3-0 at 9:16 of the second session with his first tally in eight career games. Andersen denied Andrew Desjardins' wraparound attempt at the right post, but the 32-year-old Kearns pounced on the rebound in the slot and buried it.
Niemi's bid for his third shutout of the season ended with 8:28 left. Corey Perry made a pass from along the end line on the left side of the net to Maroon, who beat Niemi to the glove side from the left faceoff circle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: San Jose C Tommy Wingels suffered an undisclosed injury on his second shift of the first period and missed the remainder of the game. ... Sharks captain Joe Thornton registered his 825th career assist, tying Alex Delvecchio for 25th place on the all-time list. ... The Pacific Division rivals face off again in Anaheim on Tuesday.