The San Jose Sharks moved within one game of the Western
Conference semifinals Wednesday they topped the Nashville Predators
3-2.
San Jose – The San Jose Sharks moved within one game of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday they topped the Nashville Predators 3-2.
Rookie Joe Pavelski garnered his first-ever Stanley Cup Playoff goal 1:06 into the second period as the Sharks created a 2-0 margin and never gave up the lead.
The Sharks can finish the best 4-of-7 series Friday night in Nashville. A sixth game, if needed, would be Sunday night in San Jose.
The Sharks managed the first period’s only goal when Milan Michalek jabbed home a feed from Joe Thornton from behind the Nashville net 3:29 into the action.
Nashville, still seeking its first road victory in three years of post-season action, fashioned a 14-5 edge in shots in the opening 20 minutes. The Predators nearly scored in the game’s first 40 seconds when winger J. P. Dumont sped around the Sharks defense before whistling a shot wide of the net from 15 feet out.
“(Nashville) had a lot of shots in the first period, but Nabby (Evgeni Nabokov) bailed us out,” said defenseman Scott Hannan.
The second period produced three goals as the teams fired eight shots apiece.
Pavelski, who scored 14 goals in 46 games in the regular season, took his time carrying the puck across the Nashville blueline unmarked after taking a pass from Kyle McLaren. The center then drilled a shot from atop the left circle past Vokoun’s left shoulder and into the net for the 2-0 cushion.
“There was a little gap there,” said Pavelski of his trip into the Nashville zone. “I just held up a second (before shooting).”
After being denied on six scoring chances in the game’s first 22 minutes, the Predators finally converted when Jason Arnott skated toward the crease and tapped in Peter Forsberg’s feed from the endboards at 2:32 of the second.
The Sharks regained the two-goal edge when Michalek tallied his second goal of the game and fourth of the series.
First Thornton and then Michalek hustled to keep the puck inside the Nashville zone despite the Predators’ pressure to clear the zone as the Sharks power-play concluded. Michalek managed to burst past the Predator defense and try a wrap-around shot that chipped off the leg of defenseman Kimmo Timonen and into the net at the 12:53 mark.
“He has a knack for scoring big goals,” said coach Ron Wilson of Michalek.
Nashville went the first 14:42 of the third period before getting a shot on net.
“In the third period, we did a great job of all five guys coming back,” said Nabokov of the increased defensive effort by San Jose in the final 20 minutes.
“In the third, we tried to hit some passes that weren’t there,” said Nashville coach Barry Trotz. “Once we got that first one reeled in, we were fine again.”
The Predators made it 3-2 by scoring a power-play goal with the goaltender pulled for an added skater with 2:52 left in the game. David Legwand’s shot from the right flank bounded over Nabokov’s shoulder and into the crease. Scott Hartnell was in position to tap the puck in for the game’s final goal.
