Senators 4, Sharks 2
Rookie Mike Hoffman scored a pair of third-period goals and set up another tally to power visiting Ottawa to its season-high fifth consecutive victory.
Captain Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone each recorded a goal and an assist as the Senators improved to 3-0-0 on their five-game road trip and stayed within seven points of Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Rookie Andrew Hammond remained perfect, winning his fifth consecutive start since he was called up from the minors by turning aside 28 shots.
Tommy Wingels and Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, which suffered its eighth consecutive loss at home (0-6-2) dating to Jan. 31. Antti Niemi made 27 saves for the Sharks, who have lost back-to-back games in regulation after leading through two periods for the first time in franchise history.
San Jose quickly doused Hammond's bid for a third consecutive shutout as Wingels scored off a scramble in front 2:27 into the contest before the teams traded power-play goals in the second. Karlsson skated into the right faceoff circle to pounce on a carom off the end boards and beat Niemi under his right pad at the 7:29 mark to forge a tie.
Marleau answered just under six minutes later, corralling a loose puck in front and scoring 22 seconds into a man advantage for his 11th tally in 18 games versus Ottawa. The Senators tied it at 3:52 of the third, when Stone knocked a juicy rebound between Niemi's pads, before Hoffman scored on the power play four minutes later by burying a shot from the bottom of the left circle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Marleau scored his 451st career goal to move past Peter Stastny and Doug Gilmour for sole possession of 58th place on the all-time list - one tally behind Rod Brind'Amour. ... Hammond's scoreless streak was snapped at 174 minutes, 11 seconds - fewer than 10 minutes shy of Patrick Lalime's franchise record (184:06). ... Hoffman, who netted the lone goal in Thursday's 1-0 win at Los Angeles, has scored six times in his last eight games.