SAN JOSE, Calif. _ There wasn't a wild celebration when San Jose Sharks forward Mikkel Boedker scored a power play goal late in the third period of Thursday's game with the St. Louis Blues.
Instead, as Boedker skated to the bench seconds after he ended the Sharks' longest-ever power play drought, he flashed more of a wry, knowing smile.
Boedker's goal with the man advantage with 7:48 to go in regulation time was also the game-winner, as the Sharks earned a workmanlike a 2-0 win over the Blues for their third victory in four games.
Joonas Donskoi and Dylan DeMelo both had assists on the goal, which ended a 0-for-29 scoreless streak with the man advantage that dated back to Feb. 8, when the Sharks scored two power play goals against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Goalie Martin Jones made 16 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, as the Sharks moved back into second place in the Pacific Division.Tomas Hertl added an empty-net goal with 14.1 seconds left in the third period.
Thursday's game represented another opportunity for the Sharks on their homestand to solidify their playoff footing against a team that's been struggling of late.
The Blues entered the game with just one win in their last nine games. They entered Feb. 11 alone in third place in the Central Division with 71 points, and came into Thursday in sixth place with 75 points, still just two points back of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
The Sharks started their homestand with lopsided wins over also-rans Edmonton and Chicago to get to 79 points, and are coming off of a 4-2 loss to Columbus on Sunday.
"It's going to be the same every night here the whole way in," Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday morning when asked about playing another desperate team. "This is about us taking care of our game _ rest, prepare, execute _ and the results will take care of themselves at the end of day."
The Sharks had the day off Monday and went through brief, up-tempo practices each of the last two days.
The three-day break between games was the last the Sharks will enjoy this season, as they play 15 times over the next 30 days.
"One I think it came at a really good time," DeBoer said of the break. "We were ready for a little bit of a reset, especially with the new guys. It allows us to get them in here, spend a little more time with them on video, in practice on some special teams. Especially with the additions, it's been a nice break. And now, it's a full sprint to the finish here.
"I think we've set ourselves up to take advantage of that."
The Sharks' power play entered Thursday mired in an 0-for-28 slump over the last 12 games. Starting with Wednesday's practice, DeBoer moved Kevin Labanc to the top unit with Couture, Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Evander Kane.
The second unit had Tomas Hertl, Donskoi, Boedker, Timo Meier and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
The Sharks had one opportunity with the man advantage in the first two periods Thursday, and managed two shots on goal with Blues defenseman Vince Dunn in the penalty box for hooking early in the second period.
"Obviously we haven't been producing as much. We haven't scored in a while," Labanc said Wednesday morning. "Both units, first and second unit, have to be accountable for that."
Boedker may have had the Sharks' best chance to score in the second period. With the teams at even strength, a loose puck came out to him right in front of the Blues' crease, but he wasn't able to get a decent shot away. A rebound try by Hertl was stopped by St. Louis goalie Jake Allen.
