SAN JOSE, Calif. – In San Jose, the Sharks and the visiting Anaheim Ducks combined for five power play goals and one shorthanded marker in a 6-4 win for the Ducks on Thursday night. 
Several Ducks had good offensive showings on the night with Frank Vatrano hitting for a goal and Adam Henrique potting a goal and three points in the win.
Both skaters have been rumored to heading east by the trade deadline.
“It’s a rivalry game, it’s always fun to play those games,” Anaheim’s Radko Gudas said. “They’re a big, heavy team. I thought we played very physical as well.”
John Gibson made 24 saves in the win.
The Ducks moved to 21-35-3, ending a three-game schneid.
San Jose struck first with a goal from Anthony Duclair, his first of a double, at 2:47 of the opening stanza.
Anaheim replied with a pair of markers to take a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Leo Carlsson scored first to tie the game, 1-1, at 3:07, scoring off a tip in.
The Ducks took the 2-1 lead when Brett Leason scored the shortie at 4:37.
The Sharks dropped to 15-38-5 off their fifth straight loss.
“I liked our game, I just didn’t like the score,” San Jose coach David Quinn said.
In the middle frame, Alex Killorn scored an even strength goal, the only one of the period, to give the Ducks a 3-1 lead at 5:18, scoring off a breakaway.
Mike Hoffman replied for the Sharks with a power play goal midway through the second to trim the deficit to 3-2.
William Eklund got the Sharks even at 3-3 when he hit off another power play at 15:40.
“The power play was way better than it’s been, but it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t win today,” Eklund said.
Anaheim regained the lead on Vatrano’s goal, also off the power play, at 17:35 for a 4-3 advantage.
Henrique hit for the fourth combined power play goal in the middle frame to send the game to the third period with the Ducks up, 5-3. He scored at 18:41.
“That was huge; they had all the momentum,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “We got those two [power-play goals] and obviously every game has momentum. We felt we were in control of the game for most of that second period. And we got the two power-play goals and took a lot of stress off of us.”
Duclair hit off the power play for his double at 8:30 to cut the deficit down to 5-4 for the Sharks.
Isac Lundestrom sealed the win for the Ducks when he hit an empty net with 24 seconds left on the game clock for the 6-4 final count on the scoreboard.
“I think, after the last game, it was one of those games where everybody had to step up, especially in front of our home fans,” Duclair said. “We wanted to make sure we ended this homestand on a good note. Obviously, it didn’t go our way again, but I liked the way we competed and battled back and stayed in it right there until the end.”
Kaapo Kahkonen made 24 saves in the loss..
William Eklund (72) and Urho Vaakanainen (right) both earn roughing penalties – Photo by Jack Lima
Anthony Duclair (10) scores his second goal of the night past Ducks goalie John Gibson – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen blocks a shot during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta (84) attempts to control a rebound in front of goalie Kaapo Kahkonen – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks center Nico Sturm (7) wins a face-off against Leo Carlsson (91) – Photo by Jack Lima
Filip Zadina (18) and Alex Killom (17) fight for puck possession – Photo by Jack Lima
Ducks goalie John Gibson celebrates his win with teammate Ryan Strome – Photo by Jack Lima
Ducks forward Max Jones (49) takes a shot on goal in front of defenseman Kyle Burroughs (4) – Photo by Jack Lima
Brett Leason (center) celebrates his first period short-handed goal with Pavel Mintyukov (left) and Sam Carrick (39) – Photo by Jack Lima
Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) scores past Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to tie the score 1-1 in the first period – Photo by Jack Lima
Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg (33) attempts to get a shot on goal in front of goalie Kaapo Kahkonen – Photo by Jack Lima
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