SAN JOSE -– Considering the Predators again look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, it was fortunate timing that the Sharks were able ice what was their healthiest lineup in nearly two weeks on Wednesday night at SAP Center.
Although the effort was an honest one, it wasn’t quite enough against a deep and rugged Nashville squad. Calle Jarnkrok’s goal near the midway point of the third period was the difference in a 2-1 Predators win.
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Nashville improved to 7-1-1 to take over first place in the Western Conference, including a 4-0-1 mark in their last five.
The Sharks have lost four of their last five (1-4-0), including two of three on their homestand.
The Sharks trailed 1-0 after the second period, but tied it early in the third on a vintage Joe Pavelski goal.
After getting knocked from his skates in the slot courtesy of a cross-check by Shea Weber, Pavelski got back up, yelled a NSFW obscenity and resumed his place battling between the circles. A Matt Tennyson shot from the slot made its way through to Pekka Rinne, and Pavelski was there to smack in the rebound at 1:28.
San Jose Sharks
Jarnkrok gave the Predators the lead back, though, on a two-on-one rush. His wrist shot beat Martin Jones high to the short side at 8:52 for what turned out to be the game-winner.
The Sharks nearly tied it in the final minute with the goalie pulled, but Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s shot rang the cross bar.
Eric Nystrom’s goal just 3:22 into the first period held up as the only score through two periods. Roman Josi set it up, feathering a pass through Brent Burns to Nystrom, who blasted it past Jones’ short side for his third of the year.
Nashville has scored the first goal in eight of its nine games, and is the only team in the league that has yet to allow a first period goal-against.
The Predators nearly increased that lead less than a minute later, but Jones bailed out both Paul Martin, who gave the puck away, and Burns, who misplayed a two-on-one rush. The Sharks’ goalie lunged to his right to deny Filip Forsberg with 16 minutes to play in the first period.
San Jose got it together after that, though, and had the better of the scoring chances. Patrick Marleau intercepted a Barret Jackman pass in the neutral zone and found a charging Mike Brown headed towards the net alone, but Brown couldn’t corral the feed.
Jackman was on the receiving end of a hard shoulder by Tommy Wingels later in the first, and retaliated by roughing Wingels, but the Sharks couldn’t capitalize on their power play.
The power play continues to be a source of concern for the Sharks, who have not scored a goal on a man advantage in six games (0-for-13). That also includes a third period advantage after Pavelski drew an interference minor on Gabriel Bourque with about eight minutes left in regulation.
The Sharks welcomed back Joonas Donskoi and Ben Smith to the lineup. Donskoi had missed five straight with a lower body injury, while Smith was banged up from a puck to the head that forced him out for three games.
The Predators were making their only visit of the season to San Jose. The Sharks are in the Music City for games on Feb. 6 and April 2.
The Sharks announced a crowd of just 15,219, although actual bodies in the building appeared to be far fewer. It was their smallest announced crowd since Feb. 8, 2006.
Nashville improved to 9-3-1 against the Sharks in the last 13 meetings.
Special teams
The Sharks finished 0-for-2 on the power play, but killed off both Predators advantages. Their last power play goal came in the third game of the season in Washington on Oct. 13. Overall, they are just 3-for-27 on the year (11.1 percent).
San Jose had allowed at least one power play goal against in five straight games.
In goal
Rinne improved to 9-5-4 career against the Sharks with 20 saves. His best stop came with 8:35 to go, when he snagged Justin Braun’s wrist shot from the circle.
Jones has lost all three of his career decisions to the Predators, but the Wednesday’s was the first in regulation (0-1-2). He allowed two goals on 24 shots.
Lineup
The Sharks were missing only center Logan Couture, who is out another 3-to-5 weeks with a fractured leg, and Raffi Torres, who is suspended.
Mirco Mueller was recalled just prior to warmups in case of emergency, but did not play.
Nashville’s James Neal saw his five-game point streak come to an end.
Up next
The Sharks visit Dallas on Saturday and Colorado on Sunday for back-to-back afternoon road games. A four-game homestand opens with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Nov. 3.