SAN JOSE — The Sharks know they have to keep playing a tight, defensive style if they want to mitigate the loss of captain Logan Couture and somehow climb back into the Western Conference playoff race.
The formula worked again Thursday, as Kevin Labanc, Joe Thornton and Brent Burns all scored and goalie Aaron Dell finished with 29 saves as the Sharks topped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 at SAP Center.
Burns’ goal came at the 2:09 mark of the third period and provided some insurance for the Sharks, who beat the Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday in Columbus and now have points in six of eight games (4-2-2) since the Christmas break.