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SAN JOSE – Joe Pavelski drilled his 12th power play goal of the season over prone Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick 8:27 into the third period to cap a 4-2 victory over the visitors at sold-out SAP Center.

SAN JOSE – New Jersey put a dent in San Jose’s plan to create some space between the Sharks and the two teams trailing them in the Pacific Division by powering past the hosts 5-2 at` sold-out SAP Center.While the loss left the Sharks with 54 points in seventh place in the Western Conference, a three-point game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames moved Calgary to 53 points, the KIngs at 52.San Jose takes on the Kings Wednesday night in the club’s final game before the All-Star break.New Jersey came into the game as the seventh-place team in the Metropolitan Division and missing Jaromir Jagr for the third straight game. The Devils shook off the underdog label by scoring the final three goals of the game.The Sharks’ offense mustered two goals for the eighth time in the past nine games.Joe Pavelski, 21st among NHL scorers coming into play, gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead 3:59 into action. Pavelski and Joe Thornton traded passes in the offensive zone before Pavelski lined a low shot inside the right post past a screened goaltender Cory Schneider. Thornton moved into a tie for 21st place all-time in the league with 878 assists.The Devil regrouped to score twice within a 35-second span, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Jordin Tootoo chipped the puck over goaltender Alex Stalock from the front of the crease at 15:29 for the equalizer. Steve Bernier gave the Devils a 2-1 cushion when he jammed home a feed from behind the net from Scott Gomez at 16:04.The Devils lost the lead at the four-minute mark of the second period. Tyler Kennedy’s cross-ice pass allowed Matt Nieto to pocket his fourth goal of the season.New Jersey, though on the short end of a 36-34 edge in shots on net, sliced through the Sharks’ defense to come away with the three-goal margin.Mike Cammalleri whipped a low shot off a blocked shot at 14:45 of the second period for a power-play goal. The Devils followed with a goal from Travis Zajac at 11:12 of the third period. Jacob Josefson added a short-handed goal at the 14:32 mark.        

SAN JOSE – Starting a seven-game home stand on a successful note, the San Jose Sharks made a pair of first-period goals in an 11-second span hold up, pinning a 3-1 loss on the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night.The victory left the Sharks with 53 points after 45 games, good for sixth place in the Western Conference. San Jose hosts Calgary Saturday, then New Jersey and Los Angeles next week before the All-Star break.Justin Braun assisted on the two goals midway through the first period.The first goal came about after Braun’s cross-ice pass allowed Brenden Dillon to whip a shot at goaltender James Reimer. The puck bounded off Reimer’s pads to a waiting Tyler Kennedy at the edge of the crease. Kennedy patiently controlled the puck before lifting it over the prone Reimer at the 8:55 mark.Patrick Marleau scored the game-winning goal at 9:06. The 35-year old winger rushed the puck into the Toronto zone before snapping a low shot between Reimer’s pads. The goal was originally waived off by a referee, but an off-ice review determined that Marleau’s goal had gone over the goallineMarleau moved into a tie with Pierre Turgeon and Joe Sakic in 19th place in NHL history with his 86th game-winning goal.Toronto denied Antti Niemi a shutout when Roman Polak pushed a short shot inside the left post just before Niemi was able to slide to the post at 11:57 of the first period.After a scoreless second period, the Sharks locked up the win on Tommy Wingels’ empty-net goal with 49.2 seconds left in the third period.Logan Couture fired seven shots on net, Marleau six as San Jose created a 42-25 edge in shots. The Sharks managed a 17-4 edge in shots in the second period.