SAN JOSE – Behind a hat trick from Joel Ward and second period markers from Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels, the Sharks ended their three-game losing streak on Saturday night at SAP Center, 5-2 over the Hurricanes.
The Sharks had been outscored 14-4 in three losses in a row after winning their first four out of the gate. They improved to 2-1-0 at home.
The Hurricanes, who entered with just two goals in their last three games, dropped to 2-6-0.
The Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of first period goals by Ward, but Brenden Dillon’s tripping minor gave Carolina its third power play early in the middle frame. Justin Faulk made it count with a wrist shot that snuck through Martin Jones’ five-hole at 3:09 with Eric Staal camped in front of the net.
[RELATED: Shot of the Game: Ward eclipses 100-career goals mark]
San Jose responded with two more scores to go ahead 4-1. Pavelski poked a loose puck between Eddie Lack’s legs over the line at 6:08, and later Wingels deposited his own rebound through Lack at 9:09 on a play that began with a perfectly feathered pass through the neutral zone by Chris Tierney.
Cam Ward replaced Eddie Lack at that point, after Lack allowed four goals on just 13 shots.
Despite playing in the second of a back-to-back, Carolina kept up the fight and controlled play for the final half of the second period. Riley Nash juked Tomas Hertl behind the net and banked in a shot off of Jones’ arm at 10:43, pulling Carolina back to within 4-2.
Ward completed the hat trick with 56 seconds left in the third period, smacking a loose puck into an empty net after a previous attempt seconds earlier was blocked. In the first period, he deposited the rebound of a Hertl shot just 1:21 into the game after Hertl’s slick move around Noah Hanifin, and seven minutes later beat Lack to the far side on a two-on-one rush with Patrick Marleau.
San Jose welcomed Paul Martin back to the lineup, after the 34-year-old defenseman had missed three straight. The Sharks are 5-0 with Martin in the lineup, and have surrendered just four goals.
The Sharks, who snapped an 0-2-2 streak against the Hurricanes at home, visit Carolina on Feb. 19.
The Hurricanes outshot the Sharks for the game, 34-21.
The announced crowd for the game was 15,814, the lowest since March 30, 2006.
Special teams
The Sharks have surrendered at least one power play goal in each of their last five games, going just 11 for 17 over that span. Carolina was 1-for-3.
San Jose did not get a power play until late, failing to capitalize on a Kris Versteeg hook at 5:20 of the third period. They have just 11 power play chances over their last five games, and have not scored on any of them.
In goal
Jones had surrendered four goals in each of his last two games, both losses, but made 32 saves in securing his fifth win. It was his first career game vs. Carolina.
Ward, who played Friday night in Los Angeles, stopped seven in relief of Lack, who took the loss.
Lineup
John McCarthy was recalled from the Barracuda on Saturday morning and played in his first NHL game since Feb. 7, 2014, also with San Jose. Micheal Haley, who played on Thursday against the Kings, was reassigned.
Joonas Donskoi missed his fifth straight game with a lower body injury, but is close to a return. Ben Smith (head) was out for his third in a row.
Ward’s first goal of the night was the 100th of his career.
Up next
The Sharks conclude their homestand with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. They visit Dallas and Colorado back-to-back next weekend on Saturday and Sunday in a pair of afternoon tilts.
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