Sharks move into first place in Pacific Division with 3-0 victory over Wild

Martin Jones turned aside all 24 shots he faced as the San Jose Sharks moved into first place in the Pacific Division with a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday in Saint Paul, Minn. Fourth-liner Barclay Goodrow and Tomas Hertl each scored, and Logan Couture converted a penalty shot for the Sharks, who have won five in a row to move past the idle Calgary Flames atop the Pacific.

The shutout was Jones' third of the season and second against the Wild, as he made 26 saves in San Jose's 4-0 win at Minnesota on Dec. 18. The 29-year-old stopped 73 of 76 shots in a three-game season sweep of the Wild and 128 of 137 shots during his five-game winning streak. Devan Dubnyk turned aside 26 shots for Minnesota, which began a season-high, five-game homestand by dropping its second straight contest following an eight-game point streak (6-0-2).

Both teams saw their bids to snap a scoreless tie hit the post before San Jose cracked the scoresheet with 5:54 remaining in the second period. Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's shot from along the left-wing boards deflected off Goodrow's stomach and into the net as the forward skated in front of Dubnyk. The goal was Goodrow's sixth of the season was first since Dec. 16.

San Jose doubled the advantage when Hertl capped a three-on-one rush by tucking the puck inside the left post at 4:37 of the third period. Minnesota defenseman Anthony Bitetto was whistled for hooking on Couture's partial breakaway midway into the third period, resulting in a penalty shot. Couture made the Wild pay by wristing a shot between Dubnyk's pads for his 24th goal of the season.

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau attempted to challenge the initial play, claiming that Couture was offside. Replays confirmed Boudreau's claim, but the officials announced that the play itself was not open to challenge since it resulted in a penalty -- not an immediate goal. Minnesota drew iron on two attempts during a scoreless first period, as Zach Parise's deflection of defenseman Jonas Brodin's shot caromed off the right post at 4:52, and Pontus Aberg's bid caromed off the crossbar with 4:48 remaining.

(With inputs from agencies.)