Ducks 5, Sharks 3: Defenseman Francois Beauchemin scored twice and Viktor Fasth returned from an upper-body injury to make 32 saves as Anaheim posted its franchise-record 12th consecutive home victory.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf and rookie Emerson Etem each recorded a goal and an assist and Peter Holland also tallied for the Ducks, who snapped the club mark originally set from Dec. 8, 2009-Feb. 10, 2010. Anaheim, which began a five-game homestand, has earned a point in 11 straight overall contests (8-0-3).
Patrick Marleau and defensemen Jason Demers and Matt Irwin scored while Antti Niemi turned aside 23 shots for the Sharks, whose road winless streak reached five games (0-4-1).
Beauchemin and Demers traded first-period tallies before Anaheim scored three goals in a 2:46 span midway through the second to seemingly take control.
Holland converted a pass by Andrew Cogliano from the left side of the net at 11:09 to snap the tie and Etem beat Niemi from alone in front 34 seconds later for his first NHL goal. With the Ducks short-handed, Etem set up Getzlaf during a 2-on-1 rush to complete the outburst and give Anaheim a 4-1 lead.
Marleau began San Jose's comeback attempt with 29 seconds remaining in the middle period by beating Fasth from the right faceoff circle, and Irwin's one-timer from the top of the slot at 6:48 of the third caromed off Getzlaf's skate and past Fasth to cut the deficit to one. But Beauchemin completed his fourth career two-goal effort by scoring into an empty net with 46 seconds left to seal the win.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Despite serving the third contest of his four-game suspension for an illegal hit on Minnesota's Jason Zucker last Tuesday, Ducks RW Corey Perry made headlines as he signed an eight-year contract extension earlier in the day. "It could be my whole career here in Anaheim, and that's something that I wanted to do," Perry said during a television interview. ... Fasth, who had been sidelined since March 8, won his sixth straight home decision. ... Getzlaf extended his home point streak to 11 games. He has collected seven goals and 13 assists during the run. ... San Jose LW Ryane Clowe was scratched with an undisclosed injury. ... The Sharks scored more than two goals for just the third time in 18 games.
San Jose | Anaheim | |
Jason Demers 1 | Points | Francois Beauchemin 2 |
Jason Demers 1 | Goals | Francois Beauchemin 2 |
Brent Burns 1 | Assists | Daniel Winnik 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | Ryan Getzlaf 1 |
Antti Niemi .852 | Save Percentage | Viktor Fasth .914 |
Antti Niemi 23 | Saves | Viktor Fasth 32 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
San Jose | 35 | 3 | 0-3 | 1-1 | 7 | 23 |
Anaheim | 28 | 5 | 0-1 | 3-3 | 11 | 35 |