Sharks rally to beat Blue Jackets, complete 6-0 trip
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Maybe the San Jose Sharks should petition to play every game on the road this season.
Joe Pavelski scored twice and San Jose rallied late for a 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets for their sixth straight victory on Sunday night.
San Jose won its seventh consecutive road game by completing a perfect six-game trip, giving them the NHL's best record away from home at 10-3-0.
''I think that 6-0 at the NHL level at any time is quite a feat,'' Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. ''But to go on the road and rattle off those wins in the buildings we just played in, I think is a real testament to the character of our group and the leadership of our group.''
Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist, and Brent Burns and Brenden Dillon also scored for San Jose. Joel Ward added two assists and Alex Stalock made 28 saves.
Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson scored for Columbus, who were on the cusp of a fifth win in their last six games, but they were doomed by losing faceoffs in crunch time and an ill-timed penalty. Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 24 saves.
Columbus led 3-1 after Atkinson's goal 1:23 into the third, but the Sharks stormed back with help from several key offensive zone faceoff wins. They took the lead by scoring three times in a 7:02 span, including Dillon's go-ahead score with 6:45 left.
''They are opportunistic off of those faceoffs, they score goals, we take a bad penalty and they score on the power play,'' Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. ''They found a way to win. We found a way to lose.''
Pavelski started the rally at 6:13, with a long redirection between Bobrovksy's legs.
''The whole game felt good even when we were down 3-1,'' Pavelski said. ''It's disappointing it gets to that because we felt liked we played a good game. No one was discouraged.''
With Dalton Prout in the penalty box for hooking, Burns pulled San Jose even, one-timing a cross-ice feed from Ward at the left circle for his eighth and third in two games.
''I was going to shoot it originally but then I saw a lane pretty open and I tried to fire one across,'' Ward said. ''It was a good pick up by him.''
Pavelski scored his 12th into an empty net with 1:16 remaining.
Despite all the travel, the Sharks had more than enough energy in the first period. They seemed to catch Columbus off guard with their speed, and they didn't shy away from the rough stuff, participating in two fights four seconds apart.
With San Jose buzzing around the Blue Jackets' cage, Marleau scored a goal a night after becoming the 83rd NHL player to reach 1,000 career points. In heavy congestion, he slipped home a rebound for his seventh with 3:33 left.
In the second period, Columbus carried the play, outshooting the Sharks 19-7 and putting them on their heels. They cashed in twice 1:18 apart to take the lead.
''I don't think we played our best game but we definitely played well enough to win,'' Columbus captain Nick Foligno said.
But instead it was a banner night meant to be for San Jose.
''It was pretty impressive,'' Ward said. ''I've never been part of that. Even in video games, I've never been part of that. To win six in a row on the road is pretty cool.''
NOTES
DeBoer missed the Penguins game, a 3-1 win, to tend to personal matters. ... Blue Jackets' D Ryan Murray played his 100th game. ... San Jose entered tied with the most road wins in the NHL. During their impressive road trip they skated away with victories in Detroit, Buffalo, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Columbus. ... Columbus is 8-7-0 under coach John Tortorella. ...Burns is tied for the league lead for goals scored by defenseman.
