Ending a losing streak is one thing, but ending a losing streak in style is exactly what the San Jose Sharks (34-18-5) needed.
They did exactly that in Jersey.
The white and teal had to be an angry bunch entering Sundays tilt with the New Jersey Devils (23-22-10). The Sharks were playing the last game of a four game road trip that included exactly ZERO wins. Coming away from the Prudential Center with two points was paramount for San Jose before heading into the last 25 games of the season.
Nearly 24 hours after a costly turnover in overtime lead to his team's loss in Philadelphia, Brent Burns reminded us why he is the NHL's best offensive blueliner.
Burns scored two goals in helping the Sharks end a four-game (0-1-3) losing streak with a 4-1 win against the Devils.
After the Devils jumped out to a 1-0 first period lead (despite a 19-2 shot advantage), Burns scored on two consecutive shots to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead. A lead they would never relinquish.
Burns has a staggering 59 points (24g 35a) in 57 games and leads the NHL with 228 shots on goal. Only Connor McDavid has more overall points (61) than the bearded Norris candidate.
It was as dominant as the Sharks have been in several games. A combination of having played the afternoon before and the Devils playing their first game after the mandated five-day break helped San Jose's cause.
San Jose gets back into the win column and despite finishing the east coast road trip with one win - they return home having earned 4 of 8 points and a five point lead in the Pacific.
The Sharks are off until Wednesday when they host the Florida Panthers at the Tank.
What you may have missed...
- Martin Jones made 21 saves in the win. It was Jones first win since beating Vancouver on Feb. 2.
- Brent Burns had his first multi-goal game since scoring twice in loss to the New York Rangers on Oct. 17, 2016
- More Burns... He tied his game-high total this season of 11 shots.
- Kevin Labanc picked up two assists. It's the second multi-point game of his career and first since before Christmas. Labanc has points (3a) in back-to-back games since being recalled from the AHL last week.
- Tomas Hertl has five points (2g 3a) in eight games since returning to the lineup in late January.
- Jumbo Joe Thornton has points in three straight games (2g 1a), tying the longest such streak this season. I found that very hard to believe but it's true.
- The Sharks scored three goals on seven shots in the second period after having no goals on 19 shots in the first.
- San Jose finished the game 0 for 6 with the man advantage and just for their last 18 on the power play.
- New Jersey killed over nearly two minutes of 5-on-3 penalty time in the first period. They scored their only goal of the game shortly after.
- Logan Couture returned to the Sharks lineup after sitting out Saturday's loss in Philly with an "upper-body" injury.
- San Jose is 16-17-2-2 all-time vs. the New Jersey Devils.
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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