Mighty Ducks 5, Sharks 4, OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The Anaheim Mighty Ducks earned a full two points in the standings with one of the strangest goals of the season.

Former San Jose defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh was credited with the goal 58 seconds into overtime in the Mighty Ducks' 5-4 victory over the Sharks on Tuesday night, but that was a mere technicality.

Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov stopped Ozolinsh's slap shot from the right circle, with the puck falling to San Jose center Patrick Marleau. As Marleau began to move with the puck behind the goal, Anaheim center Samuel Pahlsson hit Marleau's stick and the puck rolled into the net.

"I can't believe it went right into the net," Marleau said. "I went to make a move and all of a sudden I hit it straight in. There were a couple of hits on my stick, but it shouldn't matter."

As the last Anaheim player to touch the puck, Ozolinsh was credited with the goal. He also scored the winning goal Friday night a 3-2 victory over Minnesota.

"It was a lucky break for us and we'll take it," said Ozolinsh, a seven-time All-Star who recently returned to the Ducks after spending time in the NHL's substance abuse program. "We competed pretty hard the whole game. It was a good win for us."

A 44-save effort by goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, including a breakaway save on Joe Thornton early in overtime, put the Ducks in position to get the victory.

"Our goaltender really stole the game for us," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "In all reality, give him credit for the win. We gave up too many quality scoring chances."

The strange victory moved Anaheim within three points of Edmonton for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

"Right now every win feels great," said Anaheim center Andy McDonald, who had two goals in the game. "Were playing for the playoffs - it's right there for us if we continue to play well."

Joffrey Lupul and Corey Perry also scored for the Ducks.

Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Christian Ehrhoff and Steve Bernier scored for San Jose as the Sharks rallied twice to tie the game in the third.

With the Sharks down 3-2 after two periods, Ehrhoff's goal on a slap shot drew the Sharks even 2:43 into the third. Perry gave the Ducks a 4-3 lead on a power play at 12:51, but Bernier answered for San Jose 62 seconds later.

"I think we did a really good job of battling back from being down," Marleau said. "It was a bonehead play by me to give them the win."

The Sharks went 0-2-1 on a three-game trip, the first time they have lost three consecutive games since acquiring Thornton on Nov. 30.

San Jose is eight points behind Edmonton.

"There is plenty of time," San Jose coach Ron Wilson said. "You want the two points in regulation, but we kept battling all night long. We just couldn't find a way to get that extra point earlier."

Notes: The Sharks will play their next six games at home. .. Ducks defenseman Keith Carney was back in the lineup after leaving Sunday's game against Columbus because of back spasms. ... Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer assisted on McDonald's first goal for his 400th career assist.