Final Score: San Jose 3, Minnesota 2

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Patrick Marleau scored on a power play five minutes into the third period, lifting the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 win over Minnesota and extending the Wild's losing streak to four games.

Jamal Mayers and Logan Couture also scored and the Sharks tied a season-high with 50 shots for their second straight win. Antti Niemi had 28 saves, including nine in the third period to backstop the victory.

John Madden and Kyle Brodziak scored for the Wild, who have been out-scored 15-4 during their four-game slide. Niklas Backstrom was the hard-luck loser with 47 saves.

Marleau scored with a wrister from the left circle after a cross-ice pass through traffic from Joe Pavelski.

"Nice to see him get it on the power play," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan.

Later in the period, San Jose defenseman Dan Boyle went down after colliding with Minnesota's Greg Zanon near the Sharks net. He looked to be seriously injured after folding to the ice and sliding to the boards.

Boyle punched the ice, but skated off and said he felt better just seconds later.

"Bodies are not supposed to bend that way," he said. "I'm happy with the way things feel now, but ask me tomorrow."

San Jose took a 1-0 lead 11:29 into the first period when Mayers got behind two defenders and flipped a backhand past Backstrom. But the Wild tied it on Madden's shorthanded goal at 14:53 after they managed to get San Jose on its heels with a 3-on-2.

Couture tipped the puck in at 11:33 of the second period after Douglas Murray sent it on net from the right side, but Minnesota again tied it less than two minutes later when Martin Havlat flipped a pass ahead to Brodziak in the slot, making it 2-2.

Game Notes

The Sharks were without forward Dany Heatley, who was suspended two games by the NHL for an elbow to the head of Dallas' Steve Ott on Tuesday.