Sharks fall to the Penguins

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SAN JOSE, Calif.  — Casey DeSmith made 38 saves, and the Pittsburgh Penguins bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a 3-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday.

“This was a big game for us,” DeSmith said. “I was really happy to get the call tonight and even happier that I could contribute to a good win and an important win.”

Sidney Crosby had three assists, Rickard Rakell had a goal and two assists and Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Penguins (27-17-9), who lost 6-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Teddy Blueger (53) attempts to block a pass by Sharks defenseman Jacob McDonald (9) – Photo by Jack Lima

“He had a big game for us,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby. “I think he recognizes the importance of a response game after a humbling loss in L.A.”

Timo Meier scored, and Aaron Dell made 25 saves for the Sharks (17-27-11), who played their first home game since Jan. 18.

“Certainly disappointed with the result, but I really liked our game tonight,” San Jose coach David Quinn said. “I thought it was a really good hockey game, fast-paced. I thought both teams were incredibly competitive, both goalies played well, and we just came up on the short end of it.”

Rakell gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 5:52 of the first period. Jeff Petry put the puck on net from the right boards that Dell couldn’t control, and Rakell scored on the rebound.

Guentzel made it 2-0 at 11:33 of the second period after Crosby set him up with a no-look pass from behind the net.

Sidney Crosby waits for the puck drop before a faceoff – Photo by Jack Lima

“I think we [can be] better,” Crosby said. “I think we can possess the puck a little bit more, give teams a little bit less. But that’s the consistency that we’ve got to find here.”

Meier cut it to 2-1 at 15:57 of the third period. He skated nearly the length of the ice on the left, held off Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson and pushed the puck past DeSmith from just above the crease.

“That’s a big-time goal and a power-forward goal,” Quinn said. “He’s an elite player in this league, and he’s a very difficult guy to contain. He had some chances tonight.”

Guentzel scored into an empty goal with 38 seconds left for the 3-1 final.

Scott Harrington(4) and Jake Guentzel (59) chase a loose puck – Photo by Jack Lima

“We had enough looks to score two or three,” Sharks forward Logan Couture said. “It’s the way it goes. I thought we played well.”

NOTES: Crosby has at least one point in 10 of his past 11 games (three goals, 14 assists). He has 41 assists this season, the 14th time he has reached 40 in the NHL, the most of any active player. Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks is next with 13. … The Sharks are the 30th team Crosby had three points in a game against on the road, which ties Kane and Evgeni Malkin for the most in NHL history. … Rakell scored his 15th goal in 34 career games against San Jose, the most he has against any team. … Couture played his 900th NHL game. … Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (three goals, six assists) and forward Alexander Barabanov (three goals, four assists) each had a four-game point streak end.