SAN JOSE, Calif. — Dylan Larkin scored in the first minute, Jonathan Bernier had 38 saves and the Detroit Red Wings beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 Monday night.
The Red Wings have won four of their last five games after going 1-9-3 over their previous 13.
The Sharks lost their season-high sixth (0-5-1) straight game. It's their longest skid since going 0-6-0 in March 2017.
San Jose is in second place in the Pacific Division, six points behind Calgary, which lost to Los Angeles 3-0. The Sharks maintained a five-point lead over third-place Vegas, which lost to St. Louis, 3-1.
Larkin scored his 28th goal on a breakaway 38 seconds into the first period , faking a forehand shot before slipping a backhander past Martin Jones, who finished with 20 saves.
Andreas Athanasiou scored his 29th goal on a breakaway with just under five minutes left in the second period.
Athanasiou has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his last five games.
The Red Wings opened up a 3-0 lead when Christoffer Ehn scored a short-handed goal at 8:35 of the third period.
Evander Kane scored his 28th goal for San Jose on the power play 20 seconds later.
Tomas Hertl scored his 33rd goal with four seconds left in the game.
Three of Detroit's last four wins have been against contending teams (Islanders, Golden Knights, Sharks).
San Jose's three most recent losses have been to teams with losing records (Los Angeles, Anaheim and Detroit).
NOTES: D Dylan McIlrath made his long-awaited Red Wings debut. The 26-year-old was acquired from Florida in a March 1, 2017, trade. . F Thomas Vanek (mid body) was scratched and C Michael Rasmussen (upper body) missed his second straight game. ... D Jonathan Ericsson (lower body) returned to the lineup after missing four games. . D Brian Lashoff was sent to Grand Rapids (AHL). ... Sharks All-Stars C Joe Pavelski (lower body) and D Erik Karlsson (groin) missed their fourth and 12th straight games, respectively. . F Barclay Goodrow appeared in his 200th game. . Sharks F Gustav Nyquist faced Detroit for first time since being traded to San Jose on Feb. 24.
UP NEXT
Detroit: At Buffalo on Thursday.
San Jose: Hosts Chicago on Thursday.
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Gideon Rubin, The Associated Press