18-shot second period helps San Jose to 3-1 win
San Jose – The San Jose Sharks erased a 1-0 deficit with two even-strength goals in the second period and held on to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-1 Monday night at sold-out HP Pavilion.
The Sharks take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs into Wednesday’s 7pm contest in San Jose.
“A lot of it had to do with wearing them down on the power play,” said San Jose coach Ron Wilson of the key to victory.
“Even if we’re not scoring, it keeps their skilled guys off the ice. I’m sure it’s frustrating for them on the bench. It’s hard to find rhythm (killing penalties).”
The Sharks posted a 41-20 edge in shots and went on six power plays.
“We managed to control the puck,” said Wilson. “When we’re on our game, we try to wear the other team down, draw penalties. Once we got on the board, I think everything settled in.”
The Predators managed just seven shots in each of the first two periods. One of those shots, a 20-foot snapshot by defenseman Ryan Suter, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead 11:53 into the first period.
San Jose had four power plays in the second period, including 1:19 of 5-on-3 late in the period, but could not score with Nashville in the box.
Instead, the Sharks garnered even-strength goals from Milan Michalek and Ryan Clowe in a stretch of 3:40 of the second period.
San Jose defenseman Kyle McLaren was not on the ice for Michalek’s tying tally 8:38 into the second, although he was instrumental in the equalizer. McLaren hustled to create a Nashville icing by speeding past Predator Vernon Fiddler for the touch-up at the 8:32 mark.
The ensuing face-off in the Nashville zone was won by Joe Thornton. The center directed the puck to defenseman Craig Rivet at the right point.
The former Montreal Canadien sent a hard shot toward the net.
The puck glanced off Michalek’s leg just inside the right circle and dropped inside the right post by screened goalie Tomas Vokoun.
The Predators had several solid scoring chances in the second period but were denied by Evgeni Nabokov.
“We had two good scoring chances (in the second period),” said Nashville coach Barry Trotz. “One by (Jason) Arnott, one by (Peter) Forsberg. Then they got the momentum and we took a couple of penalties.”
San Jose grabbed the 2-1 lead at 12:18 of the second on Ryan Clowe’s second goal of the series.
Clowe set up with the puck behind the Nashville net before spotting Christian Ehrhoff with a pass.
As Clowe moved to the right-wing dot, Ehrhoff fed Matt Carle along the left boards. Carle snapped a pass to Clowe for the one-timer that banged inside the right post.
“That was a fantastic play,” Wilson said of Carle’s feed. “He tries to do that all the time and it works about 15 per cent of the time. Then Clowe made a great shot.”
Patrick Marleau capped the scoring when he tipped home a shot by Bill Guerin 15:34 into the third period.
