Sharks end Blue Jackets' 12-game point streak

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets had a 12-game point streak end with a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Columbus was 8-0-4 since Dec. 7, the longest active streak in the NHL and the third-longest in Blue Jackets history. Their record is 18 games (17-0-1) from Nov. 25, 2016, to Jan. 3, 2017.
"We don't talk about the streak," coach John Tortorella said. "We're just trying to play the right way. What we take away is, I thought early on we were a little sloppy as far as odd-man rushes.
"All we do is get ready for our next game. It's not about taking away or the end of a streak."
WATCH: [All Sharks vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Kevin Labanc gave the Sharks a 3-1 lead with 3:01 left in the third before Zach Werenski scored his second of the game with 2:36 remaining to make it 3-2.
Aaron Dell made 21 saves for the Sharks (19-21-3), who won their second straight. San Jose is 3-1-1 in its past five games after going 1-8-2 in its previous 11.
"We all kind of looked ourselves in the mirror and said we need to figure our game," Labanc said. "Our defensive play has been really good the past couple of games, and we've got to make sure we're still doing that."
Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (19-15-8).
Barclay Goodrow came out of the penalty box after serving a slashing penalty, went in alone and scored at 7:05 of the second period to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. An errant pass by Blue Jackets forward Sonny Milano was tipped into the neutral zone by Tomas Hertl to give Goodrow a breakaway, and he scored on a forehand-to-backhand move.

It came after a goal by Sharks forward Joel Kellman at 3:06 of the first period was disallowed after a successful challenge by the Blue Jackets that Stefan Noesen was offside.
"I thought we didn't let it affect us too much," Goodrow said of the disallowed goal. "We kept on playing and it was good to get the first one."
Werenski tied it 1-1 at 8:50 on a backhand from the right circle after a pass from Boone Jenner. Werenski has 13 goals this season, five in his past three games.
"Pucks are just going in," Werenski said. "I'm shooting them, trying to put pucks to the net whenever I can, and they seem to be going in for me."
Evander Kane made it 2-1 at 14:40 with his first goal in eight games. The Blue Jackets got caught on a line change, and Kane was scored with a wrist shot after a pass from Timo Meier.

Another giveaway led to Labanc's goal. He took a pass from Joe Thornton and scored on a one-timer.
"All night we had pressure on the backcheck," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "I just like the way we're playing as a 20-man unit. We're all on the same page, we're doing some good things, we're managing our game."
Werenski made it 3-2 on a rebound of Milano's shot.
"His know-abouts where to be on the ice and when to be there, the puck just finds him," defenseman Seth Jones said of partner Werenski.

The Blue Jackets had two shots on goal in the third period.
"We've had some good third periods here of late we just couldn't find a way to generate much offense," Tortorella said. "[San Jose] checked. They waited for their chances. A big team, [it's] tough to get inside of them."

They said it

"We're a team that doesn't score four, five, six goals a night. We have to take care of our own end first, and I think the guys are buying in on that." -- Sharks coach Bob Boughner
"We just couldn't get the flow, the mojo going tonight at all. That's mental and being physical on our part. You look at all three goals, really. They were self-inflicted by us and our mistakes." -- Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones

Need to know

San Jose, the top penalty-killing team in the NHL, was 2-for-2. … Blue Jackets rookie forward
Emil Bemstrom
was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but did not play. He missed the previous 12 games with a dislocated rib and broken cartilage sustained Dec. 7, a 4-1 loss at the Florida Panthers. ... The Blue Jackets have 10 players out with injury.

What's next

Sharks: At the Washington Capitals on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN, TVAS, NBCSWA, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)
Blue Jackets: At the Los Angeles Kings on Monday (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-W, FS-O, NHL.TV)