CSN Bay Area

MINNEAPOLIS – Patrick Marleau is the most notable Sharks player in a slump. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer now has just one assist in his last 11 games, and one goal in his last 19.

While he wasn’t able to break through on the scoresheet on Tuesday against the Wild, another player desperately seeking to end his scoring funk did just that.

Tommy Wingels entered with no goals in his previous 13 games, including a seven-game streak without finding the scoresheet. His goal in the third period gave the Sharks a brief lead in what would end up as a 4-3 overtime win.

“We all play this game to score goals, so when you go through a streak like that, it’s frustrating,” Wingels said after the game. “Fortunately over the past 10 or 15 games our team has been winning, so that’s what matters. It feels good to get that one over with.”

Shortly after Joe Pavelski tied the game at 2-2, Wingels threw a puck on net that bounced in on goalie Darcy Kuemper. The robust winger forged ahead and managed to plop in his own rebound, and then thumped the glass with a pair of clenched fists in celebration of his 10th marker.

“I don’t know if [Kuemper] was screened, but he kicked it back out and I was able to follow and get the rebound,” Wingels said. “You watch Joe Pavelski, he does that every other game or so. It’s something you try to work on with your game, as well.”

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Marc-Edouard Vlasic couldn’t remember the last time he scored two straight game-winning goals, if ever.

“Probably in novice when I scored in every game. Maybe junior, you’d have to look it up,” Vlasic said. “But back-to-back winners, probably not.”

The defenseman was a little late reacting to the goal, and admitted he didn’t see it beat the goalie a little more than three minutes into overtime.

Just before, Vlasic lost control of the puck at the blue line with the Sharks set up in the offensive zone. He and partner Justin Braun quickly recovered in the neutral zone, though.

“The ice was really bad in overtime. I passed it to him, he passed it back. … I went short side, which I did [Monday in Winnipeg], and I tried it again.”

It worked.

Todd McLellan said: “He’s taking the shot. A lesson for all of us. He’s got a hot hand, get him the puck and let him shoot it. I’m happy for him. He deserves it. He does a lot of good things defensively, so to get recognized offensively for a couple winning goals is a nice thing for him.”

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Tomas Hertl will be sporting a fat lip for the next several days after getting whacked squarely in the face with a puck, courtesy of an errant Logan Couture clearing attempt on Monday in Winnipeg that sailed into the San Jose bench.

Hertl wore a full cage on Tuesday to prevent any further damage. He didn’t seem too concerned with his injury, speaking with reporters a couple hours before the Wild game.

“I’m just happy now because I have all [my teeth]. That’s important for me,” Hertl said.

Perhaps the biggest annoyance with the cut, which required 16-18 stitches to close, has to do his trademark grin.

“I can’t smile now too much, it still hurts a bit,” he said, adding that eating will be a bit of a challenge, too, for approximately the next five days.