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Sharks storm back to defeat Pens in shootout

Nov 4, 2011 - 8:13 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Clowe scored the lone shootout goal and added a tally during regulation, as the San Jose Sharks erased an early deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3.

The Penguins, who have dropped two straight, knocked Antti Niemi from the game with a pair of first-period goals, but Thomas Greiss was solid in relief, stopping 29 shots.

Patrick Marleau and Jamie McGinn both scored for the Sharks, who opened a six- game homestand with a dramatic victory.

"For whatever reason, just coming off a long road trip, the first game is always the toughest," said Sharks center Joe Thorton. "The first period we weren't very good but the second and third we were obviously good."

Evgeni Malkin scored two goals and added an assist, while Deryk Engelland also scored for the Penguins, who got 34 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury.

Niemi was pulled just 2:32 into the game following a pair of quick goals.

Engelland began the surge just 24 seconds in, receiving a pass from Malkin and burying a wrister for a 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Malkin scored himself -- off a set up from Steve Sullivan -- marking the end of Niemi's night.

Greiss played well in relief of Niemi, allowing just Malkin's second-period goal, which deflected off the center's skate and into the net.

Meanwhile, the Sharks worked to cut into the Pens' lead.

"No matter how many goals you have it's not good enough," said Penguins winger James Neal. "The second you sit back and lay off the pedal they come at you."

Marleau received a give-and-go from Martin Havlat and squeezed a wrister between the arm and leg of Fleury to make it a 3-1 game at the second intermission.

Midway through the third, Clowe received a pass from Havlat and flipped a deft backhand past a defender and over the right shoulder of Fleury to make it a 3-2 contest.

With 4:54 remaining, the Sharks' third line delivered the game-tying goal, as Michal Handzus wrapped around the net and dropped the puck to McGinn, who sent it home for his first goal of the season.

Greiss stopped four shots in the overtime period before turning away Kris Letang, Malkin and Pascal Dupuis during the shootout.

The Penguins, still without Sidney Crosby, have lost in their last eight visits to San Jose.

Game Notes

This marked the only meeting of the season between the teams...Crosby has not played since January due to a concussion...The Penguins are 0-9-1 in San Jose since a 5-2 win on October 22, 1997.