SAN JOSE, Calif., April 4 (UPI) -- Joe Thornton put San Jose in front for good late in the second period Wednesday and the Sharks went on to defeat Minnesota 5-2.
After winning seven in a row, the Wild have dropped three out of four. San Jose extended its winning streak to six games despite letting a two-goal lead get away.
Martin Havlat and Dan Boyle gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead after one period, but Charlie Coyle and Dany Heatley produced goals 25 seconds apart in the middle period to lift the Wild into a tie.
Thornton's goal came with 5:18 to go in the second stanza and T.J. Galiardi gave San Jose some insurance 6:55 into the third by scoring on the power play. Andrew Cogliano tacked on an empty-net goal with 4 seconds remaining.
San Jose moved past Los Angeles into a tie with Minnesota and Vancouver for the third-best point total in the Western Conference at 44.
Antti Niemi stopped 31 shots to claim the victory. Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves for Minnesota.
