San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Joe Thornton scored twice, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 19 shots as the San Jose Sharks continued their incredible surge with a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion.

Curtis Brown also scored and Milan Michalek had two assists for the Sharks, who are guaranteed home-ice advantage through at least the first round of the playoffs. The club earned its first Pacific Division title since 2003-04 by defeating defending division and Stanley Cup champion Anaheim on Friday.

San Jose has won six of its last seven games and is riding an incredible 17-0-2 stretch, with its last regulation loss occurring back in New Jersey on February 20.

With the second-best record in the NHL, the Sharks still have a chance to challenge Detroit for the Presidents' Trophy. Both clubs have three games remaining and are separated by five points in the Western Conference.

"It was a great effort, the guys were doing all the little things," said Sharks head coach Ron Wilson. "I thought we totally controlled the game. We let them know early with that goal in the first shift that we wanted to win the game tonight."

Shane Doan had the lone marker and Ilja Bryzgalov made 29 saves for Phoenix, which has dropped seven of its last eight games and is officially eliminated from the playoff race.

"We (made) some mistakes (at) our blue line and our neutral zone, started to turn the puck over," said Bryzgalov. "Our key players spent too much time on the ice to defend, and can't. We can't play enough offense this way. I think we spent all period in our zone. I think if we didn't turn the puck over in our neutral zone we'd play even better."

It took the Sharks just 14 seconds to open the scoring, as Ryane Clowe ripped a shot on net that was juggled by Bryzgalov. The rebound ended up back in the slot, as Thornton breezed in and pounded home the rebound for the 1-0 lead.

The visitors evened up the contest at 6:33 when Doan scored on his own rebound chance.

Thornton posted his second goal with 2:29 left in the first when he rifled a shot from near the top of the left faceoff circle and it found its way inside the far post.

Both sides were held scoreless in the second period, but not for lack of trying. San Jose outshot Phoenix 17-5, including a flurry in the final minutes of the stanza.

The Sharks padded their lead in the third on Brown's tally at the 7:10 mark, as he deflected a feed from Brian Campbell behind Bryzgalov.