SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The power play finally broke through. Martin Jones did, as well.
The San Jose Sharks (3-3-1) picked up a 5-1 win at SAP Center Thursday by coming out on the right side of a special teams game with the Buffalo Sabres. Logan Couture helped out, as well, with his third-career hat trick.
The Sharks went 3 for 7 with the man advantage after converting just twice in 21 tries in their first six games. The penalty kill did its job, as well, going 5 for 5 on the night, allowing the Sharks to earn a win in their first game home from a five-game road trip.
The power play broke the dam right away, scoring twice off a double-minor penalty less than five minutes into the game. Joonas Donskoi scored his second of the year when an Erik Karlsson shot bounced in off his leg. Logan Couture scored the Sharks second power play goal just 42 seconds later, beating Carter Hutton to the far corner with traffic in front. Brent Burns earned an assist on the play.
Joe Pavelski finished off the power play parade by cleaning up the garbage of a Brent Burns shot at 11:49 of the third. Kevin Labanc also earned a point on the goal.
Couture added a second goal at 4:54 of the third, punching home a through-the-slot feed from Evander Kane on the doorstep. Justin Braun picked up the secondary assist. He completed the hat trick at 18:13 by scoring into an empty net.
As the power play provided the offense, Jones put together a quality start in the goal crease. After posting an .880 save percentage in his first four starts, Jones played a stabilizing role in Thursday's win, holding down the fort by making 24 saves on 25 shots.
His lone blemish came at 1:35 of the second on a shot he never saw. Jake McCabe used Karlsson as a screen to put the puck under the crossbar on a shot from the left circle.
