Sharks step it up late and down Stars

Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrew Desjardins scored a pair of second- period goals while Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels tallied late in regulation as San Jose claimed a 5-2 decision over Dallas at American Airlines Center.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic also hit the net, with Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl contributing a pair of assists for the Sharks, who won for just the third time in their last 10 games.

Antti Niemi backed that effort with a 37-save performance.

Trevor Daley and Erik Cole provided offense for the Stars, who lost for just the second time in their last six outings.

"I don't have any problem with the effort," said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. "I thought our effort was where it needed to be."

Kari Lehtonen lasted less than 27 minutes, allowing three goals on 17 shots. Jhonas Enroth stopped all nine shots faced for the remainder.

Cole's shot from in front eluded Niemi with 2:16 to play and the Stars crept back to 3-2, but Enroth was on the bench shortly thereafter when Marleau and Wingels both hit the empty net in an 11-second span to seal it.

The first tally, at 18:55, came from inside the Sharks zone by their former captain and the second, at 19:06, was a shot from just across the red line.

Vlasic put the visitors on the board just 3:24 in, rushing the net to tap in a cross-ice feed from Logan Couture.

Desjardins then struck twice in a span of 2:36 early in the second period to provide San Jose a 3-0 advantage.

"Any time that you can contribute, it's a bonus," said Desjardins. "When you score, it feels good."

His first score came at 3:38, getting a piece of the puck at the right side of the net after Hertl's offering from the boards and the second was a wrister from the bottom of the right circle with 6:14 elapsed.

Daley responded on a Dallas power play only 1:46 later when he crashed the net to pop home a Jamie Benn rebound.

Game Notes

Desjardins posted his first multi-goal effort since scoring twice against the Coyotes on Oct. 8, 2011 ... San Jose begins a four-game homestand on Saturday against Los Angeles, and Dallas welcomes Detroit two days from now ... Benn posted two assists in the loss.