Chicago, IL -- (Sports Network) - Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley both posted a goal and an assist while Evgeni Nabokov was stellar with 45 saves, as the San Jose Sharks won the battle for supremacy in the Western Conference with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center.

Jason Demers also scored for the Sharks, who have won three straight following a five-game winless skid and lead the West with 51 points, two more than Chicago.

Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane both recorded a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who saw their four-game win streak halted. Cristobal Huet allowed three goals on only 14 shots in the loss.

"We battled hard and created some shots, but they were strong defensively," said Hossa. "They were all over us."

The Sharks jumped out to an early lead only 3:18 after the opening faceoff. Dan Boyle held control of the puck and two strides after he crossed the blue line along the left side, Boyle slipped a pass to Heatley, who was streaking down the near side. From the bottom of the left circle near the post, Heatley launched a wrister from a sharp angle that beat Huet over the shoulder.

"We didn't get a lot of shots on goal tonight, but the chances we did get seemed like quality ones," said Heatley. "We got timely goals."

Thornton's 10th goal of the season 5:10 into the second stanza gave San Jose a two-goal edge. The Sharks were skating 4-on-5 due to a tripping minor called on Jamie McGinn at the 3:43 mark.

However, as the Chicago power play was winding down, a turnover in the neutral zone led to a 2-on-1 break. Joe Pavelski skated down the right-wing side and sent a cross-ice pass to Thornton, who had enough room in the low slot to move in all alone against Huet and he beat the netminder with a high snap shot.

The Blackhawks nearly cut their deficit in half with under five minutes remaining in the second stanza, but Jonathan Toews' attempt from the right side of the crease -- he had an open net due to an out-of-position Nabokov -- hit the near post.

Kane's tally at 4:10 of the final period finally did in fact bring the hosts within one. Hossa held control along the rear boards and sent the puck to the goal mouth, where Kane's second attempt on the backhand from atop the crease slid into the back of the cage.

Only 20 seconds later, though, the Sharks regained their two-goal lead. On a slow-developing 3-on-2 rush, Thornton, from the left side, feathered a drop pass for Heatley, who held control inside the left circle. A quick pass by Heatley found the stick of Demers in the high slot and Demers' blazing wrist shot lit the lamp at the 4:30 mark.

"They've got loads of skill -- their transition game is as good as any in the league," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville of the Sharks. "They made nice plays on their goals."

In the waning minutes, Chicago drew within 3-2 on Hossa's sixth goal. Skating 4-on-4 due to matching minor penalties to Toews and Rob Blake, Huet was pulled in favor of the extra attacker. Hossa held control down low along the right side near the goal line. From a sharp angle, Hossa somehow found a hole and fired the disc past Nabokov with 1:51 to go in regulation.

The Sharks, though, used two deep clears to hold on for the win.

Game Notes

The Blackhawks concluded their five-game homestand (4-1-0) and lost in regulation for only the fourth time on home ice this season (16-4-1)...The Sharks improved to 13-6-2 on the road in 2009-10...The teams combined to go scoreless on 12 total power-play chances, seven of which were awarded to the Blackhawks...Heatley has 22 goals this season...Thornton maintained his NHL lead in the assist category -- he now has 41 helpers in 36 games.