SAN JOSE >> What’s that old saying about payback, again?
Reversing — at least to some degree — the result of a New Year’s Eve game in the Lonestar State, the San Jose Sharks beat the Dallas Stars 5-2 on Sunday to wrap up a three-game homestand on a positive note.
Mikkel Boedker scored twice and goalie Martin Jones made 26 saves as the Sharks won for the fourth time in five games and added to their tenuous grip on second place in the Pacific Division.
Joe Pavelski, Melker Karlsson and Justin Braun also scored for the Sharks, with Pavelski’s goal — his 15th of the season — coming 27 seconds into the first period. The Sharks had a 4-0 lead in the first period and scored five times on their first eight shots, as they improved to 72 points for the season, three more than the third place Anaheim Ducks.
On Dec. 31, the Sharks were handed their worst loss of the season by Dallas, which scored two goals in each period to skate away with a 6-0 victory. Jones was pulled after two periods, allowing four goals on 22 shots.
Sunday, the Sharks chased Stars starter Ben Bishop by the 17:23 mark of the first period when Boedker took a pass from Chris Tierney and one-timed it from the slot for his 11th goal of the season and a 4-0 San Jose lead.