(My Sportsbook) - Too bad the San Jose Sharks did not come out with the same type of intensity to start the game as they did to open the final period in Monday's 5-4 loss to the New York Rangers.

Trailing 5-2 entering the last 20 minutes, San Jose drew within a goal on Patrick Marleau's penalty shot midway through the stanza and peppered young Rangers goaltender Dan Blackburn with 17 shots, but could not get the equalizer.

"If we play like that all game, we probably win," said defenseman Scott Hannan. "We've got to have three periods and not count on coming from behind."

San Jose, which fell for the second straight game and is winless in its last three, got a bit of a boost with the unexpected return of Scott Thornton, who played for the first time all season following shoulder surgery.

"The emotions are lower than last year," Thornton said. "We need our cockiness back. We're missing something, and it shows."

One player who has no problem in the cockiness department is gritty forward Todd Harvey, who was assessed a game misconduct and 27 minutes in penalties after getting suckered into a fracas with Rangers agitator Matthew Barnaby.

"Obviously we've had a few confrontations over the years and he always obliged," said Harvey. "I'm not going to back down. I wanted to stand up and answer the bell."

However, Barnaby never removed his gloves and was the recipient of several Harvey haymakers after seemingly instigating the fight.

"Barnaby asked me to fight. He slashed me in the back of the leg," Harvey said. "He suckered me. What can I say?"

In all New York received a seven-minute power-play and converted to make it 5-2.

"You can't win giving up more than three goals a game," said head coach Darryl Sutter. "It is a great game for fans. I'd love to pay to watch, but it ends up being a one-goal loss."

San Jose is now three games below .500 on the season.

"Basically we've played 15 games and we are six points behind where we should be," Sutter added. "That six points is not a challenge that is insurmountable. We just have to look at the next five games and see what we can do."

Things will not get any easier for the Pacific Division cellar-dwellars, as the Sharks don't return home until November 30.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Sharks will kick off an eight-game road trip in Atlanta on Wednesday. The trek will also include stops in Tampa, Sunrise, Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Nashville.