San Jose (6-6-2) at Minnesota (8-11-0)

With a season-high three-game winning streak, and five-game unbeaten run, the San Jose Sharks visit the Xcel Energy Center to take on the Minnesota Wild.

San Jose, which has picked up points in each of its last six games, a run that began with a 4-3 overtime loss to St. Louis on Nov. 13, made it three wins in a row with Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Christian Ehroff had his first career goal, and Niko Dimitrakos and Nits Ekman also scored as San Jose reached the .500 mark for the first time since last Dec. 30, improving to 3-0-2-1 in its last six contests.

“We’ve been plodding along for quite some time,” San Jose coach Ron Wilson said. “Some nights you play well and don’t get rewarded with a win. Now we’re playing well and points are showing up for us.”

It was also the Sharks’ second straight win at home after going winless (0-3-5-1) in their first nine games in San Jose.

“We needed the first one to help us get going,” Ehrhoff said. “Hopefully we can take this momentum and keep it going.”

San Jose goalie Vesa Toskala has starred in the absence of injured starter Evegeni Nabokov (groin), making each start during the Sharks’ five-game unbeaten streak. He stopped 23 shots Wednesday to improve to 3-1-3 on the season.

The Wild have lost a season-high tying three straight, including Wednesday’s 3-1 setback to Dallas. Minnesota is 1-4-1 in its last six games and has been held to one goal or fewer in five of its last seven games.

“I felt in some of those games we didn’t play well enough to score goals,” Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. “I feel tonight we played well enough to score goals.”

STANDINGS (through Nov. 26): Sharks - 22 points, 2nd place (tied), 1 PB, Pacific Division. Wild - 19 points, 5th place, 11 PB, Northwest Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Sharks - Marco Sturm, 9 goals; Vincent Damphousse, 13 assists; Sturm and Patrick Marleau, 15 points; Rob Davison, 49 PIM. Wild - Alexandre Daigle, 8 goals; Andrew Brunette, 10 assists and 15 points; Matt Johnson, 49 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Nov. 26): Sharks - Power play: 18.1 percent (17 for 94), 9th in NHL. Penalty killing: 82.7 percent (81 for 98), 21st. Wild - Power play: 16.2 percent (16 for 99), 15th. Penalty killing: 84.0 percent (68 for 81), 13th.

GOALTENDERS: Sharks - Nabokov (3-7-5, 1 SO, 2.69 GAA); Toskala (3-1-3, 0, 2.15). Wild - Dwayne Roloson (5-6-2, 2, 1.98); Manny Fernandez (3-5-1, 0, 2.90).

SEASON SERIES: Sharks, 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Oct. 12; Sharks, 3-2. At Minnesota, Alyn McCauley’s power-play tally sparked a three-goal flurry over the final four minutes of the first period for the Sharks. Cristoph Brandner scored his first career goal for Minnesota.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Sharks - 4-3-3-1 on the road; Wild - 4-6-2-0 at home.