March 12th, 2015

by Jerry Feitelberg

The San Jose Sharks met the Central Division leader, the Nashville Predators, in a big game for both teams. The Sharks are currently in ninth place in the Western conference and would be out of the playoffs if they were to start today. The Predators are tied with the Anaheim Ducks for the best record in the division. The team with the most points would host if the two teams were to meet in the conference finals. The Sharks prevailed Thursday night over the Predators 2-0 and were able to move within two points of the final playoff spot. Winnipeg lost and the Los Angeles Kings beat Vancouver. The Kings have 79 points while Winnipeg has 78.

There was no scoring in the first period. The Sharks had two power play opportunities but could not cash in. Both teams play was sluggish for the first fifteen minutes, but Nashville picked up the pace and had a 14 shots on goal compared to just six for the Sharks. The Sharks’ Chris Tierney had a chance to score but missed the net. The Sharks did light the lamp earlier in the period but the goal was waved off as there was goaltender interference and they did not score.

Both teams continued their sluggish play for about the first fifteen or sixteen minutes of the second period. The Sharks went on the power play at the 11:15 mark of the second period but Nashville’ PK was excellent sending the puck out of their zone and keeping the Sharks from mounting an attack. The Sharks did not have a shot on goal on the power play for the second time in the game. The Sharks got another bite of the apple when Nashville’s defenseman Mathias Ekholm went to the penalty box for slashing with 3:42 left in the period. This time the Sharks did not fail. They scored thirteen seconds later went Tomas Hertl notched his eleventh goal of the year punching the puck past the outstretched leg of Pekka Rinne. Justin Braun and Chris Tierney picked up assists on the play. The Sharks played much better the last three minutes of the period. Each team had eight shots on goal, but Nashville leads 22-14 overall. Sharks lead 1-0 at the end of two.

The Sharks were outshot again in the third period, but they scored the second goal of the night on a power play with just 58.5 seconds left in the game. Tommy Wingels drove the puck into an empty net for his fourteenth tally of the year. Chris Tierney picked his second assist and point of the night. Thomas Hertl picked up the assist. Hertl had a goal and an assist. Sharks’ goalie, Antti Niemi, stopped thirty-five shots and was awarded the first star of the night.

The Sharks meet the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday afternoon at the SAP Center. The Sharks have just four home games remaining on the schedule and have to play ten on the road as the season winds down. The Sharks have a better record on the road as they are 17-11-3 as compared to 17-15-5 at home.

The attendance was 17,562.