SAN JOSE – Two power-play goals were enough to push the San Jose Sharks past the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Saturday night at sold-out HP Pavilion.
The regulation win left the Sharks with five of six possible points in this week’s three-game home stand. San Jose is on the road for games with Vancouver on Tuesday and Calgary on Wednesday. The Sharks are home to St. Louis on Saturday afternoon.
San Jose, with 24 points in 20 games, vaulted over Phoenix (23) into second place in the Pacific Division. Both Los Angeles and Dallas have 22 points. Anaheim is first with 32 points after an overtime loss to the Coyotes.
Joe Thornton assisted on both power-play goals to reach 1,100 points for his NHL career.
San Jose fashioned a 30-12 edge in shots on net through two periods while taking the 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Sharks were not able to convert on a power play off Predator Scott Hannan’s interference at 6:38 of the first period. San Jose recovered to score on the next two extra-man opportunities, needing just 19 and 16 seconds to solve goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Nashville went one man down at 17:28 of the first period when Kevin Kline was whistled for slashing Logan Couture.
The Sharks showed patience setting up a play after winning the face-off. Defenseman Dan Boyle had room inside the blueline to wind up and deliver a one-timer off a soft pass from Thornton. The blast dropped inside the left post at the 17:47 mark as Joe Pavelski blocked Rinne’s view at the edge of the crease.
“That’s a case of good traffic, good goal,” said Thornton. “Pavelski made a great screen.”
When Nashville’s Ryan Ellis tripped Andrew Desjardins 8:56 into the second period, the Sharks were one shift from a 2-0 lead.
Both Couture and Pavelski battled for the puck behind the Nashville net after Thornton won his sixth consecutive face-off. As Couture worked the puck away from a defenseman, the puck skimmed off the skate of Hannan and toward the left edge of the crease. Pavelski slipped inside pressure from defenseman Klein and was able to lift the puck past Rinne at 9:12.
“The power play looked real good,” said Thornton. “It’s been a work in progress.”
Nashville was limited to seven shots in the third period as the Sharks concentrated on defense. The visitors came up with one goal with 14:30 gone in the third period. Playing short-handed on a Paul Gaustad trip to the penalty box, the Predators took advantage of a turnover at the Nashville blueline to allow Gabriel Bourque to score on a breakaway against goalie Antti Niemi.
San Jose withstood 80 seconds of Nashville pressure at the end of the game with Rinne off the ice for an added skater.
