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Thornton, Sharks rally past Wild

Jan 26, 2014 - 7:45 AM San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Thornton scored two goals in his first game since agreeing to a three-year contract extension, including the game- winner in overtime, to lead San Jose to a 3-2 comeback victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

The Sharks erased a 2-0 deficit in the second period and in the extra session, Thornton beat Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper with a slap shot from the left circle with 1:30 remaining.

Patrick Marleau, who also re-upped for three years on Friday, supplied the other San Jose goal.

Antti Niemi stopped 20 shots, helping the Sharks win six in a row for the third time this season.

Kuemper made 30 saves in his seventh straight start for Minnesota, which fell to 8-3-1 in 2014.

"When you don't get the second (point) it still stings a little for sure," said Wild head coach Mike Yeo.

Matt Cooke beat Niemi on a breakaway 9:33 into the contest. Keith Ballard then ended a 114-game goal drought as he pinched in from his defensive position for a shot from low in the left circle at 4:16 of the second period.

It was Ballard's first tally since Oct. 6, 2011.

Thornton and Marleau scored 49 seconds apart to draw San Jose even.

Off a feed from Joe Pavelski, Thornton fired home a shot at 11:12 of the middle frame. Marleau converted Tommy Wingels' pass at 12:01.

"Maybe it took us a little bit to regroup, but we finally did and we came together," said San Jose defenseman Matt Irwin.

Game Notes

Minnesota forward Jason Pominville collected an assist for his 500th career point ... Irwin and Pavelski both had two assists ... The Wild have lost 13 of their last 15 trips to San Jose.