SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Joe Pavelski scored two goals, Antti Niemi earned his sixth shutout of the season and the San Jose Sharks moved back into playoff position by beating the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Saturday night.
Jason Demers also scored for the Sharks, who rebounded from back-to-back losses at Anaheim and Phoenix to close within one point of Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles and Phoenix with three games remaining.
The Stars were thoroughly outplayed for a second straight night and have gone from leading the Pacific Division heading into Friday’s 5-2 loss at Vancouver to being out of the playoff picture one night later. Dallas trails eighth-place San Jose by one point for the final postseason spot and is two points out of the division lead.
