Rangers 3, Sharks 1
Chris Kreider collected a goal and an assist while Henrik Lundqvist finished with 30 saves as visiting New York skated to its fifth straight victory and 13th in 14 games.
Martin St. Louis scored for the second consecutive contest and Rick Nash matched last season's total with his 26th goal to tie Dallas' Tyler Seguin for the NHL lead. Derek Stepan notched a pair of assists as the Rangers defeated all three California teams in a four-day span and avenged last season's brutal 9-2 drubbing at the SAP Center.
Rookie Melker Karlsson scored for the fifth consecutive contest and Antti Niemi turned aside 29 shots for the Sharks, who have dropped two in a row overall and three straight at home. Joe Thornton recorded one shot on goal and finished with a minus-3 rating in his return from a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury.
Kreider alertly tapped a loose puck to St. Louis, and the latter beat Niemi from in close 10:40 into the first period to open the scoring. New York doubled the advantage 4 1/2 minutes later, as Kreider gained inside position on a defender and cleaned up the rebound of defenseman Dan Girardi's shot from the point.
San Jose tried to muster a comeback, but Joe Pavelski's bid from point-blank range caromed off the crossbar late in the second period. Karlsson put his team on the scoreboard by poking home a loose puck from the right doorstep during a power play at 7:14 of the third, but Nash sealed the win by tallying into an empty net with one minute remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York D Dan Boyle received a standing ovation after a video tribute was shown on the scoreboard during a stoppage in the first period. Boyle, who stood up to acknowledge the crowd, played the previous six seasons with the Sharks before signing with the Rangers in July. ... Nash and San Jose D Brent Burns were named to the upcoming All-Star Game. ... Karlsson tied Jeff Friesen for the Sharks rookie record for consecutive games with a goal.