Meier has hat trick, Sharks hand Ducks ninth straight loss

SAN JOSE -- Timo Meier had a hat trick, and the San Jose Sharks handed the Anaheim Ducks their ninth straight loss with a 4-1 win at SAP Center on Saturday.

It was Meier's second hat trick of the season and third in the NHL. He scored five goals in a 6-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 17.
"Obviously, I love scoring goals, that's no secret. But for me, the main focus is to win games," Meier said. "My [personal] goals are with the team. I try to be the best player I can be for the team and contribute in that way."
Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored, and Tomas Hertl had two assists to reach 200 in the NHL for the Sharks (29-28-8), who have won three of four. James Reimer made 27 saves.
"I think 'Reims' really kept us in it at the beginning of the game, especially on the penalty kill," Boughner said. "We were just a little sloppy, but we used 'Reims' saves and we settled down and we played a pretty good hockey game after that."
Gerry Mayhew scored, and Lukas Dostal made 20 saves in his first start since Jan. 15 for the Ducks (27-29-11), who are 0-7-2 in the skid.
"We put him in some tough situations here tonight and he made some big saves and kept us in the game," Anaheim defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "We know how good he is as a goaltender. I don't think anyone flinches when they see him in the net. He's such a passionate young kid, he really just has a love of the game and really appreciates his opportunities, and I think for that reason we want to play well for him."
Vlasic put San Jose ahead 1-0 at 14:48 of the first period. Ryan Merkley set the play up with a no-look pass, and Vlasic's one-timer from between the circles went through traffic.
"'Merks' made a good play, I just tried to get open," Vlasic said. "It's nice when you don't have to chase the game. Normally when you score first you have a better percentage of winning the game."

Meier made it 2-0 at 1:41 of the second period with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle.
"All we had to do was bang one [in]," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "It could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0 [in the first period]. But it wasn't, and that's where sometimes some frustration can build. I thought we managed that pretty well, but it just simply came down to when we needed to score, they got a save, and when they got their opportunities, they buried it."
Mayhew cut it to 2-1 at 1:05 of the third period with a wrist shot from between the circles. It was his first goal in his third game since being claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 20.
Meier made it 3-1 at 3:56 on a power play before completing the hat trick with his 30th goal of the season at 15:55 for the 4-1 final. He has scored five goals in the past four games.
"Timo's skating well, and when he shoots the puck like he is, it's nice to see him get rewarded," Sharks coach Bob Boughner said. "He's had a great season and he's not stopping."
NOTES: Meier's 30 goals tied his NHL career high (2018-19). He is the sixth player in Sharks history to have multiple 30-goal seasons (Patrick Marleau, 7; Joe Pavelski, 5; Logan Couture, 3; Owen Nolan, 2; Jonathan Cheechoo, 2). ... Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was plus-1 with one shot in 16:33 after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. … Dostal was recalled from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. It was his third NHL start and fourth NHL game. … Sharks forward Lane Pederson had one shot in 10:47 in his first game since Feb. 20. He was recalled from San Jose (AHL) on Wednesday.