Ugly First Dooms Sharks; Lose 6-3 To Predators

Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists as the Nashville Predators won their fifth straight, beating the San Jose Sharks 6-3.

Will Smith scored twice for the Sharks, who lost their fifth straight game in regulation. Adam Gaudette also scored, but Alex Nedeljkovic allowed five goals by him in the first period. Nedeljkovic made 12 saves.

Jonathan Marchessault had three assists, and Ryan O’Reilly had two. The Predators’ best players came to play as Roman Josi, Steven Stamkos, and Matthew Wood all also scored. Juuse Saros was timely in his saves, making 27 for the game.

Turnovers and not being able to kill plays defensively were the story yet again for the San Jose Sharks. They couldn’t break out the puck, which has been a major issue during this losing streak. The first period was a perfect example of all the issues the team has been dealing with during the tough stretch.

Yaroslav Askarov, Vincent Desharnais, and Igor Chernyshov all returned from injury. Chernyshov had an assist in the game and looked like a nice addition to the top line.

San Jose came into the game five points behind Nashville for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Although the Sharks have two games in hand, they now sit seven points back with just 13 games remaining. At this point, their playoff hopes look thin, but crazier things have happened.

Forsberg put the Predators up 1-0 2:34 into the first period. Fedor Svechkov came down the slot and found Forsberg for the tap-in at the right post.

Gaudette tied the game 1-1 at 6:25. Shakir Mukhamadullin took a wrist shot from the center point, and Gaudette tipped the puck past the left pad of Saros.

Wood gave the Predators the lead back 2-1 just 1:24 after the game was tied. The Predators winger walked Kiefer Sherwood at the blue line and then beat Nedeljkovic with a shot high over the blocker.

Josi pushed the Predators’ lead to 3-1 at 11:40. Forsberg intercepted a puck and then found Josi in the high slot, and his wrist shot beat Nedeljkovic by the blocker.

Evangelista scored the third unanswered goal for the Predators, making it 4-1 at 12:26. The Sharks’ defense gave Ryan O’Reilly too much space, and he found Evangelista driving the front, and the puck went off his skate and in.

Skjei made it 5-1 at 16:36. O’Reilly easily danced around Gaudette before finding Skjei at the point, and his one-time blast got through traffic and by Nedeljkovic.

Stamkos made it 6-1 with a power-play goal at 12:36 of the second period. Stamkos took the puck at the top of the left face-off circle and ripped a shot bar down over the glove of Nedeljkovic.

Smith scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal to make it 6-2 at 17:26. Macklin Celebrini’s one-timer popped back out in front, and Smith one-timed it over Saros and in.

Smith scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-3 at 1:40 of the third period. Igor Chernyshov’s wrap-around attempt went back in front, and Smith’s backhand went under the legs of Saros and in.