Pavelski helps Sharks open homestand with win against Flames

SAN JOSE -- Joe Pavelski had a goal and his first two assists of the season to help the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 win against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center on Sunday.

Evander Kane and Joonas Donskoi each had a goal and an assist and Martin Jones made 29 saves for San Jose (9-6-3), which opened a six-game homestand after losing back-to-back road games.

"We played a better brand of hockey than we played the last couple games on the road, more characteristic of how we want to play," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said.
WATCH: [All Flames vs. Sharks highlights]
Sean Monahan scored and Mike Smith made 26 saves for Calgary (10-7-1), which lost for the second time in seven games.
"Not everyone started on time," Flames coach Bill Peters said. "I was a little disappointed with some of the guys. We were stubborn with the puck in the neutral zone, and that's where they got some of those rushes. We turned it over far too often."
The Sharks took a 1-0 lead 50 seconds into the game on Kane's sixth goal of the season. Pavelski sent a pass from the slot to Kane, who beat Smith from the left face-off circle to the far side.

"It was good to get off to a good start and get an early lead," Kane said.
San Jose extended its lead to 2-0 at 1:28 of the second period when Kane sent a pass in front from behind the net and Donskoi beat Smith with a wrist shot from close range.
"I had some time," Kane said. "He did a great job of pushing his way to get open and get his stick on the ice. I just tried to find that seam there between the guy's stick and the post. He did a nice job of putting it away."
The Sharks gave up four goals in four of their past six games, including road losses to the Dallas Stars on Thursday and St. Louis Blues on Friday. Kane and Pavelski, who skated on a line with Donskoi, said they were determined to play a harder game at each end of the ice.
"We had good momentum early where we were just swarming pucks, turning them over," Pavelski said. "We got to play in the [offensive] zone. It's more fun that way than getting it stuffed down your throat every night."
Monahan cut San Jose's lead to 2-1 at 6:02 of the second with his ninth goal of the season and 300th NHL point. Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson lost the puck in his own zone and Flames forward Mark Jankowski sent the puck ahead to Monahan, who beat Jones from the slot.

Flames forward Sam Bennett had a penalty shot at 12:22 of the third period, but Jones made a right pad save. Jones also stopped Jankowski on a rebound from close range with 6:32 left to preserve the one-goal lead.
Jones saved all 14 shots he faced in the third period.
"That was unbelievable," Sharks defenseman Justin Braun said. "Some of those saves in the third, a lot of guys aren't making those saves. He was dialed in all night, rebound control. We needed him and he came up big."
Pavelski scored an empty-net goal at 19:09 to make it 3-1.

"I thought we generated some good looks in the third, we just weren't able to put them in," Flames defenseman Mark Giordano said. "We didn't go to the net. They were more committed to putting the puck on the net and forechecking than we were."
Sharks center Logan Couture, who played his 600th NHL game, missed the final 4:30 because of an undisclosed injury.
"I don't have an update," DeBoer said. "He went down a little awkwardly. We'll know more tomorrow."

They said it

"It was frustrating because we played so well. It doesn't feel good not getting the tying goal. I'll try to think of something else the next time." -- Flames forward Sam Bennett on his penalty shot
"It's a huge win. Reset our game. It's a four-point game obviously, where everybody is. I think this league is about limiting your losing streaks and extending your winning streaks. We wanted to make sure we nipped that in the bud tonight." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer

Need to know

Flames forward James Neal received 8:03 of ice time. … Sharks forward Tomas Hertl returned and had an assist after missing three games because of a concussion. ... It was the 28th three-point game of Pavelski's NHL career.

What's next

Flames: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV)
Sharks: Host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNP, NBCSCA, FS-TN, NHL.TV)