San Jose, CA – Antti Niemi stopped all 22 shots he faced, while Tommy Wingels added a career-high three points on a goal and two assists, as San Jose downed Anaheim, 4-0, to sweep a home-and-home series from HP Pavilion.
Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns scored early in the first period for the Sharks, who took a 5-3 decision in Anaheim on Monday and have won three of their last four.
"We were crisp," said San Jose captain Joe Thornton. "We know we got to win some games to get to postseason. Every game is going to be so important. We looked sharp early on. It paid off for us."
Jonas Hiller made 25 saves in defeat for the Ducks, who extended their season- long losing skid to four games.
San Jose punctured Hiller on three occasions before the first 10 minutes of regulation.
Pavelski began the surge with a goal only 60 seconds in on a wraparound at the left post, Marleau doubled the advantage at 4:52 when he one-timed a Logan Couture pass home from the left circle, and Burns lit the lamp on the power play at 9:20 with a blast from the left wing.
"You can't get behind 2-0, 3-0, in the first period consistently and expect to win," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It catches up to you."
The Sharks did not commit a penalty in a scoreless second period, helping Niemi -- who needed to make only seven saves -- maintain that cushion.
After failing on an earlier wraparound attempt and a partial breakaway, Wingels' persistence finally paid off with a shot inside the near post from the right circle with 6:44 gone in the third period.
That strike came when Sharks defenseman Jason Demers was in the penalty box for delay of game.
Niemi finished off his clean sheet with five more stops in the final stanza.
Game Notes
Niemi collected his second shutout this season and his 21st career whitewash, 13 of which have come as the San Jose netminder ... The Sharks continue their seven-game homestand on Thursday by welcoming Detroit ... San Jose won three of five meetings in the season series, including both on home ice.
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