Luke Kunin second from right celebrates a goal scored in the second period it was Kunin’s first NHL goal this one coming against the Nashville Predators on Sat Oct 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks will be making the transatlantic flight home with lifelong memories and the experiencing of playing hockey in two World capitals. They will not, however, be returning with any points in yow after falling to Nashville 3-2 in Prague Saturday night. The Sharks went winless in both contests of the Global Challenge Series against the Predators.

Luke Kunin converted on the power play for his first goal in teal and Logan Couture scored his first of the campaign, but Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Filip Forsberg potted a goal for the victory. Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves, holding off a late Sharks push for the two points.

The Sharks held a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes thanks to Kunin knocking in a loose puck at the net front with 5:36 left in the frame, but Nashville outscored San Jose 3-1 in the middle frame.

Niederreiter beat Kaapo Kähkönen 4:35 into the second on a snap shot for his second goal against thr Sharks this season. Logan Couture answered right back on the next faceoff, beating Lankinen of a feed from Steven Lorentz ten seconds later for a 2-1 lead. Mario Ferraro also assisted on the goal, his second apple after picking up the secondary assist on Kunin’s goal as well.

The lead was short lived with Forsberg scoring on a wrap around chance the hit off Kähkönen’s pad below the goal line and up and in the net at the 6:29 mark. Niederreiter added his second at the 12:13 mark of the frame for a 3-2 edge. Kähkönen made 15 saves on 18 shots.

The Sharks pushed late, putting 15 shots on goal in the third while allowing only three, but Lankinen turned aside all comers to seal the win for Nashville.

San Jose look to give their coach and general manager their first wins Friday night when they open the season at home. They’ll be facing Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes after an offseason swap.

They’ll then play another rare Friday-Saturday back-to-back when the Chicago Blackhawks come to town Saturday night. The Sharks will be honoring former captain and general manager Doug Wilson that night.

Notes: Steven Lorentz and Oskar Lindblom picked up their first points as members of the Sharks, while Kunin scored his first goal after an offseason trade brought him over from Nashville…the Sharks won the faceoff battle a second night in a row, taking 50.7 percent of the draws…Evgeny Svechnikov and Jaycob Megna drew in for the Sharks, replacing Scott Harrington and Noah Gregor from the opening game lineup…San Jose wore their all teal uniform set as the designated home team, meaning fans have now seen both sets with the Sharks wearing their white sweaters Friday.