Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 4, Sharks 3 (OT)

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose on Sunday night:

1. Minnesota finished a three-game grind through California with a 2-1-0 record, checking off coach Bruce Boudreau's top goal of "winning the week."
It was highlighted by a standout performance by former Shark Alex Stalock, who finished the game with 31 saves, in earning the victory against the team that drafted him in 2005.
"Unreal, just the whole deal, playing your old team, I'd never done that and a lot of good friends," Stalock said. "To get two points is pretty special."
Stalock was especially impressive over the final eight minutes of regulation, as San Jose put forth an overwhelming push, one that eventually resulted in the tying goal with 5:01 remaining. The goal, by Tomas Hertl, came after a 60-second stretch where Stalock had to make half a dozen 10-bell saves just to keep the Wild in front.
Over the final 7:23 of the third period, San Jose outshot Minnesota 8-0.

Fortunately for the Wild, it was able to rally in overtime when Nino Niederreiter scooped up an ugly turnover by the Sharks in front of their own net and fired past goaltender Martin Jones for his second career overtime dagger, and first since Feb. 6, 2014.

"I lost the puck. I was frustrated with myself, and he gave it right back to me," Niederreiter said. "I was happy to shoot the puck there right away."
Losing a 3-nothing lead is never ideal. But on the road, to finish a trip... two points is two points.

"I think it was a great character win," Boudreau said. "We did face a barrage in the third period, but we stuck to what we were supposed to do for the most part and came out positive. To win for Alex, guys were really working hard to get that for him."
2. After a quiet turn through SoCal, Eric Staal was Minnesota's biggest offensive catalyst on Sunday.
The veteran centerman secured an assist on Ryan Murphy's goal in the first, then scored his first goal of the night on pretty play by Ryan Suter.
The defenseman gathered in a pass from Nino Niederreiter at the left dot that got Sharks goaltender Martin Jones on the ground. With a whole bunch of net to shoot at, Suter instead chose to skate around the net, instead finding a wide-open Staal standing on top of the blue paint for an easy tap in.

"I was actually getting ready for him to just shoot into the empty net there," Staal said. "I guess his patience paid off for me and for us, coming around the net, I was pretty sure I screamed as loud as I could to him and he was just waiting to get around the net. A great play by him. I'll take those."
"I told him, 'I'm a team player.' I could have put it in myself, but I figured I'd pass it to him. He's older," Suter said, cracking a smile.
Early in the second, it was Staal utilizing the wraparound after a shot from the point by Murphy went wide and caromed off the end wall. Staal, gained control, and with Jones slow to secure the far post, wrapped a backhander just inside the goaltender's skate and the pipe for his second of the night.

After going scoreless in three straight, including the first two games of the trip, the Wild badly needed a night like tonight from Staal.
"We need our big players to be big or we're not going to succeed," Boudreau said. "He played really good, could have had a couple more I think."
3. After going scoreless in his first five games with Minnesota, Murphy broke out offensively, scoring a goal and an assist.
His first point was a goal on the power play 4:19 into the game. When Jason Zucker had the puck behind the goal line not far from the right post, he had two options on the play: the high-percentage pass to Charlie Coyle for a lower percentage shot, or a lower percentage pass to Murphy at the back door for a sure goal.
Zucker chose the latter and threaded the needle perfectly, finding the blade of Murphy for his first goal in the NHL since April 9, 2015, a span of 69 games.

"It's been awhile," Murphy said. "It was definitely a good feeling. It was a great pass. It was a really good pass right on my tape."

Murphy also gained an assist on Staal's second goal in the second period, his first assist (and first multi-point game) with the Wild. It was Murphy's first multi-point effort since Jan. 6, 2015.
The big night on the scoresheet was a nice reward for a player who has been steady in his handful of games since his recall from Iowa late last month.
"I thought it was really good," Boudreau said. "He plays with poise, which is really, really good. You can tell he's not a first-year guy. I thought all the guys we added into the lineup played a really stellar game."

Loose pucks

• Mikael Granlund had a pair of assists for the Wild and was a plus-2.
• Niederreiter, Staal and Jonas Brodin were each plus-3.
• Jones finished with 20 saves.
• Brent Burns had two goals for the Sharks.
• Sharks forward Jannik Hansen played in his 600th NHL game.
• Attendance: 17,205

He said it

"We definitely played some really good hockey out here in California. We just gotta make sure we bring that momentum with us, bring that confidence with us and take it game by game." -- Wild forward Nino Niederreiter

They said it

"It was a gutsy effort by us. Our sixth game in 10 nights, including traveling back from the East last week. It's back-to-backs against a team that was rested and waiting for us." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer

Dan's three stars

* Eric Staal
\\ Brent Burns
\\* Alex Stalock