ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Wild weren't going up against someone they're chasing in the Western Conference wild-card race.

That's their next game.

But there was still pressure, to not lose to the last-place Sharks and snap their weeks-long skid.

Thanks to a two-goal third period, the Wild shrugged off San Jose, 3-1, on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center to barely stay off a very short list of teams the Sharks have defeated since the All-Star break.

Matt Boldy backhanded in a rolling puck only 18 seconds into the final frame before Ryan Hartman drained an empty-netter with 54 seconds left to give the Wild a much-needed pair of points in their return from a four-day break and extend San Jose's rut; the Sharks have dropped nine in a row and own just two wins (over the Senators and Flames) in their last 20 games.

But they were competitive against the Wild after the Wild scored just once in a first period they controlled.

Actually, two pucks entered San Jose's net in the opening 20 minutes.

The Wild used a goal-mouth scramble to get the puck behind goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood just past the 5-minute mark, but video review decided the play was ruled dead before the puck crossed the goal line.

Still, the Wild still finished the first period ahead.

With 3:59 left, Joel Eriksson Ek polished off a give-and-go with Kirill Kaprizov that Boldy also factored into to hit the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his NHL career.

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