Sharks top NHL-leading Capitals

The Sharks may struggle at home during the first game back from road trips, but certainly not thereafter.

San Jose improved to 7-0 on second games at home following their travels as Joe Pavelski’s tie-breaking goal early in the third propelled the Sharks past the Washington Capitals 5-2 in front of a sellout crowd at SAP Center on Saturday.

Pavelski’s 32nd goal came on a power play that carried over from the second period.

San Jose defenseman Brenden Dillon scored his second goal of the season — and first in 42 games — at 2:51 of the third for insurance and defenseman Brent Burns added an empty-netter with 43.2 seconds left.

San Jose’s second win in five games at home enabled the Sharks to pull one point behind second-place Anaheim and three back of first-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division.

Washington tied the game 1:21 into the period by converting a 5-on-3 power play.

T.J. Oshie buried his 21st goal of the season by one-timing a cross-ice feed from Nicklas Backstrom past Sharks goalie Martin Jones.

Washington’s Justin Williams scored his 20th by tapping home a feed from Evgeny Kuznetsov at 10:12 after San Jose defenseman Paul Martin skated past the Capitals’ forward and couldn’t get back in time.