Wild 3, Sharks 1: Zach Parise scored a pair of goals and Josh Harding made 37 saves as Minnesota posted its third straight home victory.
Captain Mikko Koivu also tallied for the Wild, who registered only 13 shots in extending their home winning streak against San Jose to six games. The victory was the 13th of the season at home for Minnesota, tying it with Boston for the league lead.
Patrick Marleau scored the lone goal for the Sharks, who completed a 1-3-0 road trip with their third consecutive loss. Antti Niemi turned aside 10 shots as San Jose outshot Minnesota 27-8 over the final two periods.
After a scoreless first session, Minnesota gave Harding all the offensive support he needed just over eight minutes into the second.
Defenseman Marco Scandella unleashed a shot from the left point that was blocked in front. Parise grabbed the puck and backhanded it past Niemi at 3:55 as the goaltender was tied up with Jason Pominville.
The Wild made it 2-0 at 8:11 as Koivu accepted a drop pass from defenseman Jared Spurgeon at the right point and cut to the top of the slot before beating Niemi high to the stick side.
Marleau spoiled Harding's bid for his league-best fourth shutout with 1:41 remaining in the third, collecting the rebound of defenseman Matt Irwin's shot from the left point and tucking it around the netminder and inside the left post. Parise ended San Jose's comeback hopes by firing the puck into an empty net with six seconds to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The two-goal performance was Parise's third of the season and first since Nov. 5 against Calgary. ... San Jose captain Joe Thornton was kept off the scoresheet, ending his eight-game point streak. ... Pominville picked up an assist but saw his goal-scoring drought reach nine contests. He now shares the team lead with Parise, who reached the 14-goal plateau with his pair.
San Jose | Minnesota | |
Patrick Marleau 1 | Points | Zach Parise 2 |
Patrick Marleau 1 | Goals | Zach Parise 2 |
Logan Couture 1 | Assists | Marco Scandella 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Antti Niemi .833 | Save Percentage | Josh Harding .974 |
Antti Niemi 10 | Saves | Josh Harding 37 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
San Jose | 38 | 1 | 0-4 | 2-2 | 4 | 29 |
Minnesota | 13 | 3 | 0-2 | 4-4 | 8 | 35 |