Ghosts of Wild's past force split with Sharks

Brent Burns and Ryan Donato thwarted a comeback attempt by the Wild.

The San Jose Sharks flipped the script on the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night, avenging their Friday loss to defeat the Wild 5-3 at Xcel Energy Center.

The Sharks had a strong start but the Wild were able to score on their first shot of the game. Zach Parise found the back of the net for his second goal of the season from Kirill Kaprizov to put Minnesota ahead at 4:21 of the first period.

Off to the races 🏁

Kaprizov and Parise make 'em pay pic.twitter.com/QbL59R7OsC

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 25, 2021

Despite allowing the Wild to get on top, the Sharks controlled play in the first period. Former Wild forward Ryan Donato got San Jose on the board late in the first period, scoring his second goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

It was more of the same in the second period as Evander Kane scored his second goal of the season on a power-play marker from Donato and Timo Meier to give the Sharks the lead. After a tying goal by Nick Bjugstad was waved off through a coaches challenge, San Jose doubled its lead on Noah Gregor's first goal of the season.

Bjugstad eventually found his way onto the scoresheet, however, as his first goal in a Wild sweater from Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon on a four-on-four sent the Wild into the second intermission down 3-2.

Can't take that one away!@NBjugstad72 scores his first goal with the @mnwild!! pic.twitter.com/BTJBTBxIFR

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 25, 2021

In the third period, the Wild tied the game on the power play when Kevin Fiala scored his second goal of the season from Parise and Suter to tie the game at 3-3.

ACCURACY

Kevin Fiala ties it up for the @mnwild from long range 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ldZ2mbjZVb

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 25, 2021

Although the Wild had the momentum, it was another ex-player that buried Minnesota late in the third as Brent Burns skated to the net and beat Kappo Kahkonen for the game-winning goal with 1:48 left in regulation. The Sharks added an empty-net goal from Matt Nieto to seal the victory.

The Wild fall to 4-2 with the loss and will look to rebound Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.