Sharks pull off 10-game skid with 3-2 win over Blue Jackets

“We feel a bit relieved, obviously,” coach Bob Boughner said. “It wasn’t easy, they pushed us hard. But to get two points, especially after a long road trip, to come home and that’s a quick turnaround.

Jack Roslovic scored twice for Columbus in his third multi-goal game in the last five games. Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves. The Blue Jackets were swept in their three-game California swing, being outscored 8-1 in the first period of three losses.

“We can’t try to come back every night,” Roslovic said. “It’s too hard to do in this league. It’s just about being mentally focused from the first face-off. I guess we just didn’t have that on that road trip.

The game between two teams eliminated from the playoffs and the two key players missing through injury was sloppy at times and lacked drama until the end of the game.

Reedy started San Jose early when he got in front of the net on the power play and hit in a rebound to give the Sharks the lead.

San Jose added when rookie Thomas Bordeleau set up Balcers with a spin-o-rama pass from the back of the net.

Columbus had an apparent goal late in the period by Adam Boqvist wiped out by a successful challenge for offside by the Sharks. It’s been a recurring problem this season for the Blue Jackets, leaving coach Brad Larsen frustrated that Boqvist entered the zone early.

“It’s madness,” Larsen said. “It’s a lazy game. It’s just not focused. We had a few. Some of them are different. It is obvious. Just slide your foot, straddle the line. We have two or three different options here.

Reedy then made it 3-0 when he rebounded Sasha Chmelevski’s shot in the air and past Merzlikins.

“I think we got off to a good start,” captain Logan Couture said. “Good in the top 10, then we had a bit of disappointment, but we found a way.”

The Blue Jackets finally broke through early in the third when Roslovic scored on a late man play run. Roslovic added his second with 6:27 to play, but Columbus failed to tie.

INJURY REPORT

The Blue Jackets were missing two key players with defenseman Zach Werenski (upper body) out and forward Patrik Laine (upper body) missing his second straight game.

The Sharks were without forward Alexander Barabanov, who missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury. Defenders Erik Karlsson and Radim Simek remain day-to-day after picking up injuries on a recent road trip to San Jose.

COLLEGE MEETING

The game featured three players who were college teammates at Michigan less than two weeks ago at the Frozen Four.

Forward Kent Johnson and defenseman Nick Blankenburg played their fourth game with Columbus since signing post-college season deals, while Bordeleau played their second game with San Jose.

Bordeleau got his second assist in as many games, while Johnson got his first career point with an assist on Roslovic’s goal.

NEXT

Blue Jackets: hosts Ottawa on Friday night.

Sharks: Host St. Louis Thursday night.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports