National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
San Jose 3, Columbus 2
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, February 7, 2014
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Mike Hasenfratz, Greg Kimmerly
Linesmen: John Grandt, Jonny Murray
Attendance: 17562


Sharks 3, Blue Jackets 2: Tommy Wingels scored what proved to be his team-leading fifth game-winning goal early in the third period as San Jose completed a 3-1-0 homestand.

John McCarthy and Patrick Marleau also tallied for the Sharks, who snapped a four-game losing streak against Columbus. Antti Niemi turned aside 19 shots as Todd McLellan coached his 436th game for San Jose, moving him past Darryl Sutter for first place on the franchise list.

Ryan Johansen recorded a goal and an assist while Boone Jenner also tallied for the Blue Jackets, who are 1-1-1 on their four-game road trip. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 44 saves in suffering his first regulation loss in five games (3-1-1).

San Jose built a 2-0 lead less than 8 1/2 minutes into the game as McCarthy and Marleau scored 4:50 apart. James Sheppard grabbed the puck after a faceoff in the right circle and unleashed a shot from the outer edge that McCarthy deflected past Bobrovsky at 3:23 for his first goal in 36 games this season.

Bobrovsky made a stellar save on Brent Burns but was unable to control the rebound, and the puck came out to Scott Hannan at the top of the left faceoff circle. The defenseman unleashed a blast that Marleau tipped past the netminder at 8:13.

Johansen halved the deficit just 18 seconds into the middle session, knocking down a clearing attempt by Sharks captain Joe Thornton above the left circle and firing the puck past Niemi. Wingels restored San Jose's two-goal advantage at 5:11 of the third as he knocked in a loose puck in the crease after defenseman Jason Demers' shot rang off the right post.

Jenner got Columbus within one midway through the period with a wrist shot from the slot, but the Sharks were able to withstand a late surge and head into the Olympic break with a 23-4-3 home record.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Blue Jackets had a goal waved off midway through the first period as video replay confirmed Jenner's stick was above the crossbar when he deflected the puck past Niemi. ... Referee Mike Hasenfratz did not work the third period after taking a hard fall in the middle session. ... The Sharks scored more than two goals in regulation for the first time in nine games and fifth in their last 16 contests. ... WIngels has recorded the winning goal in each of San Jose's last two games.
Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   San Jose
Ryan Johansen 2 Points Patrick Marleau 1
Ryan Johansen 1 Goals Patrick Marleau 1
Ryan Johansen 1 Assists Jason Demers 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Sergei Bobrovsky .936 Save Percentage Antti Niemi .905
Sergei Bobrovsky 44 Saves Antti Niemi 19
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 21 2 0-4 5-5 10 28
San Jose 47 3 0-5 4-4 8 40
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Sharks have a W/L % of .649 after a win and .591 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .552 after a win and .448 after a loss.