La Voz

Media Credit: Steven Cabana Ryan Clowe knocks in his first of three goals.

The league's best powerplay unit provided the San Jose Sharks with a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets last night. This time however, they got a little help from an unexpected contributor.

Ryan Clowe knocked in three rebounds for his first career hat trick and helped the Sharks secure another home win. In the past two games, Clowe has registered five goals in the same fashion; tucking in any rebound the goaltender provides him.

"I have a bigger body and I'm pretty good at getting positioning," said Clowe. "Obviously they aren't pretty, but they count."

All goals between the two teams were scored on the powerplay. The past two games, the Sharks managed to light the lamp 11 times on the powerplay.

"Our powerplay is just clicking," said Sharks head coach Ron Wilson. "When you have a guy like Ryan Clowe in front of the net, he's pretty hard to move."

Sharks captain Patrick Marleau continued to stay hot. On the first powerplay opportunity, Marleau knocked in his 19th of the season at 4:22 in the first period.

Originally, the goal was given to Joe Pavelski, but Marleau was later credited with the goal. With that goal, Marleau tied the franchise goal-record (206) held previously by Owen Nolan. Against the Red Wings, Marleau surpassed Nolan for the most franchise point-record (493).

Clowe picked his first goal on the night just 0:38 seconds later. After Marleau's shot was stopped by Blue Jackets' goaltender Fredrik Norrena, Clowe knocked in the rebound.

Clowe's first goal is still undetermined if it remains a powerplay. Due to an error "in the application of the rule following San Jose's first powerplay goal," the Sharks managed to take advantage of another powerplay opportunity.

"I thought the penalties were over," said Wilson. "It was a mistake, and we took advantage of it."

After Blue Jackets' forward Gilbert Brule managed to cut the lead in half on his early second-period powerplay goal, Ehrhoff responded with his own powerplay goal with 1:57 remaining in the period. Ehrhoff's goal sealed his own hat trick. With an assist on the first goal, a fight later on in the first period and his powerplay goal, Ehrhoff managed to pick up the Gordie Howe hat trick.

"It doesn't happen to me a lot," said Ehrhoff. "It was my first fight in America. It's not so popular over there. If you fight in Germany, you get kicked out of the game."

Clowe knocked in the final two goals in the third period and let the Sharks skate easily in the third period.

"The goals he scores are tough goals; right in the crease," said Sharks forward Joe Thornton, who provided three assists on the night. "For him to score two the other night and three tonight, he's just playing great for us."

The Sharks will finish off the third game of the home stand when they face the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

NOTE: Sharks' defenseman Josh Gorges and Blue Jackets' forward Sergei Federov left the game in the first period after a collision in the Sharks' corner. Gorges left with facial lacerations while Federov skated out on his own with an upper-body injury.

Milan Michalek was scratched from the lineup because of a sore groin injury. Ville Nieminen returned to the lineup after playing his last game against the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 7.

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