On the scoreboard, the Stars were always chasing the San Jose Sharks.

It felt that way on the ice, too. And when Joe Thornton saw two plays no one else did, the Stars were trying to explain a 3-2 loss Wednesday in their homecoming from a six-game road trip.

"Our ability to make plays and pass and skate with the puck was really ineffective tonight and below average," Mike Modano said. "We just didn't have much puck possession. It seemed like most of the night we were chasing it around. By the time you get it, you're too tired to do anything with it anyways."

The Sharks outshot the Stars 28-19 and never trailed.

"Five-on-five, we just need to be better and get the pucks out of our zone and into theirs and create opportunities," Stu Barnes said.

The game had significant ramifications on the Pacific Division, more than the standings reflected on first glance.

The Sharks (13-8-4) moved within two points of the Stars despite having played three fewer games.

And the Pacific just got even more competitive. Defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim got a boost with the announced return of defenseman Scott Niedermayer.

Thornton was the game's unquestioned dominant force and first star, with two assists and the game-winning goal at 11:24 of the third period.

He dumped the puck into the trapezoidal area of the Stars zone where goaltender Marty Turco was not allowed to play the puck.

Milan Michalek won the race to the loose puck and was able to shovel the pass to Thornton, who scored rumbling to the Stars' net.

"He's a rare combination of big and unbelievable skill, great hands, a great shot," Barnes said of Thornton, who has 34 points in 26 games. "A great player and a great game."

The Stars' best chance for a tie came with less than four minutes to play. San Jose's Mike Grier was called for interference – the first Sharks penalty of the game – and Craig Rivet sent the puck over the glass on the penalty-kill for a delay of game.

But even with a two-man advantage for 47 seconds, the Stars were able to get the tying score against San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

"We had a couple of point-blank chances on the 5-on-3 and couldn't convert, which was certainly frustrating," Stars coach Dave Tippett said.

Modano, whose goal had given the Stars a tie earlier in the third period, suggested the timing was bad. The ice was beat up and snowy late, Modano said, making it difficult to set up a perfect play on the two-man advantage.

The Sharks had gotten the game's first five power plays, scoring when Jonathan Cheechoo's pass deflected off Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman for the game's first goal.