WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Antti Niemi made 35 saves and Patrick Marleau scored the only goal in a shootout Tuesday, elevating the San Jose Sharks over Washington 2-1.
Niemi made a save on Eric Fehr in the first round of the tiebreaker, and Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each missed the net on their tries.
That set up the game-winner for Marleau, who swerved toward the net, went to his forehand and put a shot past the stick of Philipp Grubauer.
Tyler Kennedy scored in regulation for the Sharks, who notched a sixth straight win against the Capitals and 17th in 18 meetings dating to 1999-2000.
Ovechkin netted his 33rd goal of the season and Grubauer stopped 28-of-29 shots for the Capitals, losers of two straight.
