Patrick Marleau’s team-leading 27th goal of the season came 3:24
into overtime as the San Jose Sharks pulled out a 3-2 victory over
the Nashville Predators at soldout HP Pavilion.
SAN JOSE
Patrick Marleau’s team-leading 27th goal of the season came 3:24 into overtime as the San Jose Sharks pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators at soldout HP Pavilion.
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The two points lifted San Jose, the Pacific Division leader, to 84 points. The Sharks are third in the Western Conference, two points behind Detroit.
San Jose managed a 13-4 edge in shots on net in the scoreless third period. Nashville’s second shot on net in overtime led to the winning play by San Jose.
San Jose defenseman Ian White was near the San Jose crease as a Predator shot skimmed off White’s leg before being turned back by goaltender Antti Niemi.
Marleau collected the long rebound and sped up-ice as White joined the action to create a 2-on-1 rush. Predator Ryan Suter was able to catch up with Marleau as the Shark reached the right circle. Marleau’s quick release countered Suter’s stickwork — the shot flying into the top right corner of the net.
The Sharks enter the final month of the season with 15 games to play. San Jose has nine home dates left, including games Thursday against Vancouver and Saturday opposite the New York Rangers. The Sharks complete the season April 9 by hosting Phoenix.
The overall balance of the conference, leading to many nights with several three-point games, has left a logjam for almost every playoff position. Vancouver has built a nine-point edge over second-place Detroit after Tuesday’s overtime win against Phoenix. Three teams, including Dallas and Phoenix of the Pacific Division, share fifth with 79 points each. Los Angeles and Minnesota are eighth with 77 points apiece. Nashville, 10th with 76, has 12 home games left, including a five-game home stand beginning Thursday.
The Sharks and Nashville came out of the second intermission with a 2-2 deadlock. San Jose never trailed in the first two periods, garnering an even-strength goal by Ryane Clowe at 8:17 of the first, then a power-play goal off the heavy point shot of Justin Braun at 4:17 of the second period.
The Predators responded with a pair of power-play goals to keep pace with the hosts. Joel Ward opened the Predator scoring at 14:22 of the first period. Shea Weber, Nashville’s leading scorer, made it 2-2 with his 14th goal of the year at 6:08 of the second period.
Nashville built an early 6-1 edge in shots on net in the first period. San Jose countered by converting on its third shot of the night.
Defenseman Jason Demers set up the scoring play by skating with the puck down the right side of the Nashville zone. Demers found Dany Heatley in the slot. Heatley’s shot attempt deflected off the shaft of Clowe’s stick and inside the left post for the 1-0 lead.
With Clowe off for holding at 13:29, Nashville hit the equalizer. Ward drove to the net from the left flank and pulled a short shot across his body into the left corner of the net.
San Jose made Nashville pay for the lone Predator penalty of the first two periods. Predator Shane O’Brien was called for holding San Jose’s Torrey Mitchell. The second Sharks power play unit grabbed the 2-1 lead. Clowe worked at the left boards to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Clowe dished to Heatley, who immediately pulled a pass back to Braun at the right point. Braun’s high, hard shot flew past the left shoulder of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Nashville turned a penalty on San Jose for too many men on the ice into Weber’s deft one-timer from the left flank for the 2-2 score. Dave Legwand controlled the puck near the right goal line before finding Weber unmarked with a cross-crease pass for the captain’s 41st point of the year.
