The Sharks are Aaron Dell’s team for now. He looks ready for the role

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SAN JOSE — The Sharks always seem to know what kind of performance they’re going to get from goalie Aaron Dell.

At this stage of the season, the Sharks can also say the same about their special teams.

The Sharks got another steady game from Dell and a big lift from their power play and penalty kill to help earn an impressive 2-1 victory against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins before a lively sellout crowd at SAP Center.

Dell made 31 saves and Tomas Hertl scored the winning goal on the power play just 1:53 into the third period Saturday as the Sharks won for the fourth in five games.

Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns each had two assists as the Sharks — in the midst of their busiest stretch so far this season — moved back into second place in the Pacific Division with 56 points, one point ahead of Calgary. The Sharks boarded a flight to Anaheim immediately after the game and will play the Ducks on Sunday.

“Just trying to put your head down and get through it. Another tough one tomorrow,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’re trying to give them as much rest as possible. It’s obviously testing your depth and your energy, but we know there’s a break right around the corner here, we’ve just got to keep plugging.”

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On the winner, Hertl collected a rebound in front of the Penguins net after a Pavelski shot on goal and calmly dragged the puck around Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith to score his 13th of the season.

The Sharks have now scored power play goals in 10 straight home games. Their power play unit came into the game ranked fifth in the league.

Their penalty kill also impressed, as it killed off three minors against a league-best Penguins’ power play. Dell did his part with seven saves when Pittsburgh had the man advantage. The Sharks entered Saturday with the third-best penalty kill in the NHL.

“Our power play capitalized when we needed it,” Sharks center Logan Couture said, “and that was the difference in the game.”

Timo Meier also scored for the Sharks and Conor Sheary scored for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby had an assist on Sheary’s goal, but Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, both among the top 15 in the NHL this season in points, had a combined seven shots on goal but were held off the scoresheet.

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That mostly had to do with Dell, as he takes over the No. 1 goalie role for the time being.

DeBoer said before Saturday’s game that Martin Jones is day-to-day with what he described as a minor lower body injury. With Jones unavailable Saturday and Sunday at least, Troy Grosenick was recalled from the Barracuda.

DeBoer said Jones was hurt during the Sharks’ 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, and that it wasn’t related to the unspecified malady he had in November. At that time, Jones sat out for two games as Antoine Bibeau was recalled from the AHL on an emergency basis.

Jones was enjoying an all-star caliber season in late-November a 10-5-1 record, a 2.05 goals against average, a .930 save percentage and two shutouts. Jones had not, up until that point, been unavailable for a game due to injury since he was acquired by the Sharks from Boston prior to the 2015-16 season.

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Asked if Jones would be able to play again by the NHL’s all-star break, which begins next Friday, DeBoer said he hoped so, but that “you never know.”

For the time being, the Sharks appear to be in good hands with Dell, who has allowed two goals or less in 10 of his 14 starts this season.

“It’s tough, with Jones going down with an injury, we knew Deller would be great, and he was again,” DeBoer said. “He was outstanding for us. That’s a nice luxury to have, with two good goalies. I thought we played a real solid game.

“That’s a real good team, obviously. We picked up where we left off at the end of the Colorado game. Really got on our toes and battled and played a real solid 60 minutes.”

The Sharks are still in the midst of a busy stretch, with Saturday’s game being their sixth in nine days. the Sharks host Winnipeg on Tuesday and the New York Rangers on Thursday before the break begins.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Dell said when asked about filling in for Jones. “If they need me for three more games, if they need me for one game. I just got to take it as it comes.”

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