Sharks 1, Rangers 0: Antti Niemi made 20 of his 41 saves in the first period and Logan Couture netted an unassisted short-handed goal in the session as visiting San Jose skated to its sixth straight victory.

Niemi, who set a franchise record for most saves in a shutout, highlighted his 27th career blanking and fourth of the season by denying Derick Brassard on the doorstep during the first period. The 30-year-old Finn continued to make a bevy of dazzling saves as the Sharks improved to 10-1-1 in their last 12 games and pulled even in points with idle Anaheim for the top spot in the Pacific Division.

Henrik Lundqvist (28 saves) suffered the hard-luck loss for New York and remained tied with Mike Richter for the franchise lead in wins (301). The Rangers dropped into a tie with Columbus for third place in the Metropolitan Division, as Philadelphia vaulted ahead by completing a home-and-home sweep of Pittsburgh.

The Sharks breezed to a 9-2 rout of New York on Oct. 8, but Sunday's contest was much more competitive. Couture gave Niemi all the offense he would need at 11:48 of the first period after skating around Brad Richards before backhanding a shot just inside the right post. The goal was Couture's 19th of the season - and second while short-handed.

New York nearly tied the contest with 3:13 remaining in the second as Carl Hagelin jammed away at the left post after his wraparound bid. The officials went to a video review to determine if the puck had crossed the goal line, but found no conclusive evidence that it had done so.

GAME NOTEBOOK: G Evgeni Nabokov had held the Sharks' record for most saves in a shutout when he turned aside 40 shots against Ottawa on Jan. 12, 2006. Niemi's previous-best total for saves in a shutout was 35, set against Phoenix on April 15, 2013. ... San Jose captain Joe Thornton was held off the scoresheet, keeping him one point shy of tying Rod Brind'Amour for 46th place on the NHL's all-time list (1,184). ... The Sharks failed on their lone power-play opportunity to drop to 1-for-23 in their last nine games. New York is a perfect 21-for-21 on the penalty kill in the last eight contests. ... Wearing a Lundqvist jersey, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan was in attendance at Madison Square Garden.