SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- The San Jose Sharks were shut down by the Carolina Hurricanes' defense.

Carolina scored three goals, including two by Ron Francis, in the third period Saturday night for a 5-2 victory and limited San Jose to 13 shots -- three in the third period.

"Our defense was unbelievable," Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe said. "No team has played that well in front of me. It was pretty to watch. The guys took care of business, and I just had to watch."

The win vaulted the Hurricanes past Buffalo and Montreal into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind eighth-place Pittsburgh.

"This was our best defensive effort of this road trip," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "Arturs played well again tonight, but our defense didn't make him work too hard."

Andrei Kovalenko gave Carolina a 3-2 lead at 3:27 of the third period, scoring from close range off a pass from Robert Kron.

Francis added his 20th goal of the season with 6:13 left, and completed the scoring with a power-play goal with 3:54 to go. Both goals came off scrambles in front of San Jose goalie Steve Shields.

Kron tied it at 2 with 1:45 left in the second period. Kron's goal came 20 seconds after Vincent Damphousse scored for San Jose.

"We go up 2-1 and then give it right back," Sharks coach Darryl Sutter said. "Very frustrating."

Carolina's Jeff O'Neill opened the scoring in the first period with his 20th goal of the season. San Jose tied it midway through the second on Brad Stuart's goal during a two-man advantage.

"I wish it would look like we were playing for a playoff spot," Sutter said. "This is the time of year you're supposed to be really, really, really excited about playing. Every time we get a chance to turn the corner, something like this happens."

The Sharks have not won consecutive games since Dec. 10, and are just one point ahead of Calgary for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"I look at the final stat sheet and, ... well, it's just hard to explain. You have to expect more," Sutter said.

"We made it easy for them," Sharks defenseman Jeff Norton said. "We were doing everything from the perimeter instead of going to the net."