Thornton, Marleau goals lead Sharks to 5-4 win over Bruins

The San Jose Sharks power play went on an extended hiatus, going 0-14 during a recent six game stretch. “If we’re going to start putting a few wins together we have to have everyone going every night”. The biggest thing is guys are showing up. “Obviously we wanted to build on the last [win over Detroit], but it’s not even close to the effort that we want”.

San Jose, 3-5-0 at home, is 3-0-0 on its current six-game road trip, 7-3-0 on the season away from home. “It probably wasn’t what either coach would have predicted, but we’ll take the result”.

The two scored power-play goals just 25 seconds apart in the second period to put the Sharks ahead for good as they beat Boston 5-4 on Tuesday night. Including two assists in each game last season, Marleau has 13 points (4g, 9a) in his last 11 skates vs. the Bruiins. “It’d be nice to get it, get it over and done with and keep moving on”, Marleau told reporters. That means Julien only deployed him for one third-period shift at even strength of a game in which the Bruins needed offense to win trailing by two goals entering the third. The center leads the Sharks with nine goals and 15 points, and he has seven points in his last six meetings with the Bruins. The Sharks have been victorious in three consecutive road contests, winning each game by a single goal.

“We know that we’re not all playing our best every night and we have to”, said Brad Marchand, one of four different players with goals for the Bruins. “Good team wins. A lot of guys have contributed and that’s what you need”.

Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin scored two goals and picked up two assists for his first four-point game in two seasons to lead the Penguins over the Minnesota Wild 4-3.

For a change, San Jose had that kind of urgency out of the gate.

Rask made 23 saves in falling to 5-7-1 overall.

The Bruins would respond with a pair of goals, the first coming off a deflection in front by Tyler Randell following a Sharks turnover. Brett Connolly had no shots on net and was a minus-2 while his line with Bergeron and Matt Beleskey was abused by San Jose’s best players, and Pavelski dominated in the Bruins D-zone. The Sharks are 8 for 32 on the road after scoring twice Wednesday and remain the NHL’s only team without a power-play goal at home (0 for 21).

Ryan O’Reilly’s power-play goal with 6 minutes, 57 seconds to play broke Niemi’s shutout bid.

With Miller healthy, the Bruins now have all eight defenseman available, meaning that they will – for the moment – need to figure out a rotation. The Sharks had veteran F Dainius Zubrus at their Monday practice at TD Garden and he will continue to practice with the team on a tryout through the rest of the road trip. The 37-year-old, released by the New Jersey Devils and the St. Louis Blues, hasn’t been offered a contract but could be added as depth and play for his former New Jersey coach, Pete DeBoer. “I think Gus has been really good for us”.

The Sharks played their most wide-open game of the season Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.

According to Larry Brooks of the NY Post, one of the names that have been mentioned with the Rangers is Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks.