Pavelski, Niemi lead Sharks in 3-2 shootout win over Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER – Scott Gomez and Adam Burish broke prolonged goalless droughts and Joe Pavelski scored the shootout winner as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Tuesday.

Brad Stuart added two assists and Antti Niemi made 36 saves for San Jose (11-6-4), which won its second straight game after an ugly stretch that saw them go 2-6-4.

Henrik Sedin and Jannik Hansen replied for Vancouver (11-6-5), which dropped to 3-5-2 in its past 10 games after starting the season 8-2-2.

The Sharks started the season on fire, reeling off seven straight victories, but their offence suddenly dried up and heading into the game versus Vancouver they sat tied with Nashville for the fewest goals in the NHL (47).

Although the Sharks didn’t exactly overwhelm Vancouver with offence, they came on strong in the third period and fired seven shots at Cory Schneider in overtime.

In the shootout, Logan Couture had to score or the Sharks would lose. He calmly deked to the backhand and beat Schneider between the legs.

After Niemi stopped Alex Burrows in the fourth round, Pavelski broke in and beat Schneider with a quick wrist shot to the blocker side to end it.

Chris Higgins had Vancouver’s lone shootout tally, beating Niemi on the blocker side.

The Canucks fell behind 2-0 early in the second frame, but it was their top line that rallied to tie the game going into the third.

Daniel Sedin flipped the puck in front of the net and it took a fortuitous bounce to Henrik Sedin, who went to the backhand to beat Niemi at 13:23.

With 25 seconds remaining in the middle period, the Canucks were rewarded for a strong shift that saw them buzzing in San Jose’s end for a prolonged period.

Hansen capped the play with a laser wrist shot that Niemi never saw for his sixth goal of the season. He has three goals and five points in the past three games.

The Sharks opened up their lead thanks to two guys that don’t usually score.

Gomez scored his first of the season and just his 10th goal in his past 133 NHL games.

Burish was the next to strike for San Jose, taking a short-handed breakaway pass from Brad Stuart and firing a shot that hit Schneider’s glove and went in.

It was the agitator’s first goal in 45 games.

Niemi has been San Jose’s bright light this season, and he continued his strong play.

With Vancouver pressing for the winner late in the third period, he robbed Burrows and Henrik Sedin with nifty pad saves.

He had luck on his side, too, as Jason Garrison hit the post with a minute remaining.

Schneider finished with28 saves.

In overtime, the Sharks killed off a two-minute Canucks power play with Gomez in the box for goaltender interference.

NOTES: Sharks coach Todd McLellan earned his 206th victory with the Sharks, tying Ron Wilson for the franchise record. … The Canucks went 0-5 on the man advantage, their sixth straight game without a power play goal. … F Bracken Kearns, 31, played his first game as a Shark and the sixth of his career. Kearns is the son of former Canucks defenceman Dennis Kearns. Bracken Kearns, who was born in North Vancouver, had zero points in five games with Florida last season. …Canucks D Keith Ballard drew back into the line-up after being a healthy scratch the past two games. He left the game midway through the third period with a lower body injury. … Cam Barker also dressed for his second straight game, while Kevin Bieksa (groin) and Andrew Alberts (healthy scratch) did not dress. … Martin Havlat (lower body), T.J. Galiardi (healthy scratch) and Justin Braun (healthy scratch) did not dress for San Jose.