National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
San Jose 2, Minnesota 1
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 11, 2014
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Mark Wheler, Brad Lazarowich
Attendance: 17097

Sharks 2, Wild 1: Joe Pavelski snapped a tie early in the third period and San Jose held on to extend its home winning streak to five games.

Defenseman Brent Burns also scored for the Sharks, who improved to 2-0-0 on their five-game homestand. Joe Thornton notched a pair of assists and Alex Stalock made 18 saves.

Blue-liner Christian Folin netted his first NHL goal for the Wild, who were beginning a three-game road trip. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 28 shots - including 13 in the second period.

After a scoreless opening period, San Jose used its power play to get on the board late in the second. Defenseman Justin Braun made a cross-ice pass to Burns, who one-timed it past Kuemper from the left point with 5:09 remaining in the session.

The Wild pulled even at 1:03 of the third, when Folin's blast from above the right faceoff circle deflected off a defender and past Stalock. The Sharks regained the lead 45 seconds later as Pavelski whipped Thornton's cross-ice pass from along the right-wing boards past Kuemper for his 15th of the season.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pavelski has scored five goals in as many games. ... Thornton increased his career point total to 1,220, moving him past Jean Beliveau for 39th place on the all-time list. ... Both teams were without regulars on defense as San Jose's Marc-Edouard Vlasic sat out with an upper-body injury while Minnesota was missing Keith Ballard (facial fractures/concussion) and Marco Scandella (suspension).
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   San Jose
Christian Folin 1 Points Joe Thornton 2
Christian Folin 1 Goals Brent Burns 1
Christian Folin 0 Assists Joe Thornton 2
N/A Power Play Goals Brent Burns 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Darcy Kuemper .933 Save Percentage Alex Stalock .947
Darcy Kuemper 28 Saves Alex Stalock 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Minnesota 19 1 0-2 2-3 8 25
San Jose 30 2 1-3 2-2 6 28
Upcoming Games
  • San Jose will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Sharks have a W/L % of .467 after a win and .562 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Wild have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .636 after a loss.