The San José Sharks continued their six-game homestand Saturday night at the SAP Center, but fell 6-3 to the Nashville Predators.
The loss marked the Sharks first home defeat of the stretch and snapped a four-game winning streak.
This came despite a comeback that saw San José erase a three-goal deficit and briefly tie the game in the third period.
Nashville struck twice within the opening minutes.
At 8:38 of the first period, left winger Filip Forsberg scored a power-play goal, his 36th of the season, to take the lead.
Just over a minute later, at 9:54, Forsberg struck again at even strength, giving the Predators a quick 2-0 advantage.
Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov said it was a big game for the Sharks.
“Every game, every minute, every second is super important,” Askarov said. “Great experience.”
With less than four minutes remaining in the period, center Steven Stamkos added another power-play goal at 16:55, extending the lead 3-0.
The Sharks managed to break through in the second period.
After trapping three Predators against the wall, San José finally freed the puck, leading to defenseman Nick Leddy scoring his first goal of the season at 15:49.
Leddy emphasized contributing in any way he can to help the team.
“I don’t look at it like that,” Leddy said. “I look at it as just trying to help do what I can to get the team in it. The goal is playoffs, and everyone is huge.”
With just 18 seconds remaining in the period, center Macklin Celebrini fired his 41st goal of the season, bringing the Sharks within one at 3-2 heading into the third.
“Krazy” George Henderson, an SJSU alum and inventor of “The Wave,” made an appearance during the second period and was seen throughout the third.
At 1:06 during the third period, center Alexander Wennberg scored to tie the game 3-3.
Wennberg credited the group’s character in a hard-fought game.
“These games are intense. I mean, both teams are really fighting for it, but I feel like we showed a lot of character,” Wennberg said.
However, the tie was short-lived and the Sharks were unable to take the lead.
Center Ryan O’Reilly restored Nashville’s lead at 8:28 of the third period, making it 4-3.
Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said he was proud of the team’s response in the second period.
“I liked their response in the second, so that’s something that was one positive of the game,” Warsofsky said. “I was disappointed with the third and just some things we did there, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”
As the Sharks pushed to equalize late, the game slipped away. With under three minutes remaining, left winger Erik Haula scored a shorthanded goal at 17:26 to extend the lead 5-3.
Center Tyson Jost sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 18:45, making it 6-3 scoreline.
The Sharks recorded 27 shots on goal while the Predators finished with 34.
Wennberg acknowledged the result, but emphasized the team’s mindset moving forward.
“Today, obviously, it’s not good enough to win this game, but it is what it is,” Wennberg said. “No one here is hanging their heads. We’re still in it, we’re still looking forward, so right now we just have to learn to move on.”
The Sharks bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night at SAP Center and will cap off the homestand Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m.
