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SAN JOSE — Timo Meier scored twice, Joe Pavelski reached the 20-goal mark again and Radim Simek got his first as an NHLer.
Battling the fatigue of an arduous travel schedule, the Sharks (16-11-5) found a way to win for the fourth time in five games Monday, topping the New Jersey Devils 5-2 at SAP Center.
The win came just two days after the Sharks finished a stretch in which they played seven of eight games on the road, changing time zones 11 times in the process.
Meier charged the Sharks win, scoring his 15th goal at 15:51 of the first to tie the game at 1-1 and recording his 16th at 14:52 of the second, giving the team a 4-2 lead. The Swiss forward picked the far corner off Sharks rushes on both goals.
Despite the two-goal effort, Meier still trails Pavelski by four goals for the team lead. Pavelski scored his 20th at 18:03 of the first, burying the rebound of a Brenden Dillon shot, putting the Sharks ahead 2-1. In doing so, Pavelski reached the 20-goal mark for the 10th time in his career. He also tied Owen Nolan (1999-00) and Patrick Marleau (2009-10) as the fastest Sharks to reach 20 goals, hitting the mark in his 32nd game.
Radim Simek also got onto the goal-sheet for the Sharks, making it 3-1 at 7:19 of the second by scoring his first NHL goal. Tomas Hertl scored the Sharks fifth goal, his ninth, at 14:23 of the third. Pavelski earned his second point of the night with an assist on the goal.
Martin Jones earned the win in the goal crease, making 22 saves on 24 shots.
Jones gave up a softie to Drew Stafford at 12:05 of the first, allowing the puck to sneak through off an odd-angle shot from the sideboards, just above the goal line. Andy Greene netted the Devils second goal at 8:59 of the middle frame, scoring off a Devils rush.
The Sharks will return to action at SAP Center Thursday, completing a two-game homestand against the Dallas Stars.