Three straight chances to clinch a playoff berth. Three straight home losses for the Sharks.
In what must be one of the strangest seasons in team history, the Sharks fell to 16-18-3 on home ice Saturday afternoon with a 4-2 loss to Antti Niemi and the Dallas Stars.
Niemi had 34 saves against his former team and Mattias Janmark returned to the lineup from injury to post his first career two-goal game to pace the Stars.
Patrick Sharp added a power-play goal and Jamie Benn scored an empty-netter to help the Stars remain in first place in the Central Division by winning for the fourth time in five games.