New York, NY (Sports Network) - Chris Drury's power-play goal in the second period proved to be the difference as the New York Rangers edged San Jose, 3-1, at Madison Square Garden.

Drury added an assist for the Rangers, who beat a Pacific Division team for the first time this year and won for the third time in four games. Ryan Callahan lit the lamp twice for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 29- of-30 shots in the win.

"In a tight-checking game, sometimes it's a smart play that wins, not a great play," Drury said. "I felt today they were in our zone. We just had some great lineups, some great blocked shots. There was no panic."

Jonathan Cheechoo had the lone tally for the Sharks, who opened an eight-game road swing by losing their third straight. Evgeni Nabokov sent back 30-of-32 shots in the loss.

"We just couldn't find a way to bury the puck," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "We don't give up too much and keep shots on the perimeter, but we have to find a way to score some goals."

New York took the lead on the power play, 5:44 in to the second frame. Scott Gomez hit a streaking Drury in the right slot, who then unleased a slapshot for his 19th goal of the season.

Things remained scoreless from there until late in the game. The Sharks mustered few serious scoring chances until pulling Nabokov in the final moments. San Jose then managed to generate some pressure but the Rangers finally broke out and Martin Straka found a wide open Callahan for the empty- netter with just two seconds left in the game.

The Sharks took the early lead after Milan Michalek dug the puck out on the boards and found Joe Thornton behind the net. The veteran center came around the goal and found Cheechoo camped out front for the tip-in goal, his 15th of the year, with 3:31 gone in the first period. The assist for Thornton gave him 500 in NHL career.

"I thought it would be a good night for us," Thornton said. "We just didn't bear down at the right time. We just couldn't finish."

The Rangers evened things later in the period seconds after a power play chance expired. Brendan Shanahan found Drury at the side of the net, who directed the disc to Callahan in front. The winger then went backhand-to- forehand, before beating Nabokov at 11:34 of the stanza.

"I'm just trying to go out there and throw my body around a bit, create a lot of energy," Callahan said. "I found a few goals there on the doorstep and just tried to go to the net."