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Sharks get by Blue Jackets

Jan 15, 2012 - 6:32 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Patrick Marleau scored the game winner with less than three minutes left in regulation, as San Jose escaped with a 2-1 win over Columbus at Nationwide Arena.

Ryane Clowe tallied the other goal for the Sharks, who have won six of seven.

Thomas Greiss stopped 25-of-26 shots to post his second straight victory.

Rick Nash lit the lamp and Curtis Sanford made 31 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped three of four.

"I'm happy with the way the guys played," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "I thought we had to overcome a lot of obstacles in the game."

San Jose picked up the deciding goal with 2:57 remaining, as Joe Pavelski's rocket from the right wing was kicked out by Sanford, but Marleau trailed the play and shot the rebound into a half-open net.

The Sharks' close checking prevented Sanford from leaving the net for an extra skater until it was far too late.

Clowe finally snapped the scoreless deadlock with a power-play score one second shy of five minutes remaining in the second period. He was stationed at the right post and alertly batted a Logan Couture shot out of the air and over a diving Sanford.

Nash tied the game with 6:53 gone in the third, snaking through the neutral zone and crossing to the right circle where he ripped a high wrister past Greiss on the far side.

Columbus' Dane Byers leveled San Jose's Andrew Desjardins with a shoulder hit to the head early in the second period. Desjardins was helped to the locker room, and Byers received a match penalty for fighting Brad Winchester.

"I think it's appropriate at that time to take care of a teammate," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said of Winchester stepping in to battle Byers. "He's done that for our team all year."

Game Notes

San Jose has taken both games over Columbus this season and has won three of its last four games in Ohio...Seven of the last nine contests between these clubs have been decided by one goal...The Sharks end their four-game road trip in Chicago on Sunday, and the Blue Jackets host Edmonton on Tuesday.