The Sharks (40-25-2) moved past Dallas for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Manny Fernandez replaced Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom to begin the third period. Fernandez had missed the previous 14 games with a sprained left knee. Backstrom is 9-3-2 as his replacement.

San Jose scored three times in a span of six minutes in the second period. Michalek took a centring pass from Joe Thornton and tipped it by Backstrom at 7:57. Ryane Clowe added a goal three minutes later, his 12th since returning from a groin injury on Dec. 9.

Jonathan Cheechoo, who has 15 points in 14 games, capped the second-period scoring with a wrist shot from the left circle.