SAN JOSE – New Jersey, owner of a seventh-place record in the Metropolitan Division going into Thursday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks, kept its playoff hopes flickering by turning back the Sharks 3-0 in front of 16,234 fans.
Thursday’s contest marked the first of 10 home dates in a span of 22 days for the Sharks. Four of the final 16 games in the regular season for San Jose are on the road.
The Washington Capitals visit SAP Center Saturday night, with the Boston Bruins in town Tuesday.
The Devils opened the scoring 3:14 into the second period. Right wing Devante Smith-Pelly drilled a low shot from the left dot past an advancing Roman Polak and inside the right post for his ninth goal of the season. Stephen Gionta and Mike Sislo earned the assists.
New Jersey did not add another shot on the net for the rest of the second period, while San Jose posted the final 14 shots heading into the second intermission.
The Devils doubled the lead at the 1:37 mark of the third period. Travis Zajac’s shot from the left flank dropped over goaltender Martin Jones and just outside the goal line. Both Jones and defenseman Brent Burns hustled to try to pull the puck out of danger, but the puck hit the left post and spun over the line for Zajac’s 11th goal of the season to make it 2-0.
The Sharks pulled Jones for an extra attacker with 2:14 left in the period. Zajac completed the scoring with an empty-netter at the 19:07 mark.
San Jose had played 37 games since last being shut-out. In only three of those games did the Sharks score only one goal.
The loss left San Jose four points behind Pacific Division leader Los Angeles. Anaheim holds a three-point cushion over the Sharks.
