San Jose Sharks celebrating after scoring a goal during their game against the Nashville Predators at SAP Center on Thursday January 23rd 2024 (via SanJoseSharks/x)

by Madison Montez

SAN JOSE- Coming into today’s game, San Jose was looking to snap a four game losing streak. The last loss was against this Nashville team where they gave up another third period lead to fall 7-5. Tyler Toffoli drew back into the lineup after missing the last three games. Newly acquired from the Calgary Flames Walker Duehr also made his Sharks debut.

Nashville’s 16th ranked powerplay got them on the board first at 3:58. After being left wide open, Gustav Nyquist scored his eighth goal of the season, Novak and Skjej registering the assists. A minute later at 4:52, the same situation occurred when Novak was left open, scoring his seventh of the season. ‘Heureux and Svechkov registering the assists.

They extended their lead at 6:53 when Filp Forsberg scored his 17th of the season assisted by Barron. After three fights in the span of four seconds, the Sharks got on the board when Walker Duehr scored his first of the season and as a Shark. Kovalenko and Ferraro registering the assists.

After good puck movement by Granlund and Ferraro, the Sharks cut the Predators’s lead to one. Ferraro with the snap shot, his fifth of the season, Granlund and Liljegren registering the assists.

The Predators extended their lead again at 1:38 of the second. Filip Forsberg picked up a loose puck and wrapped around the net to score his second of the night. Sissons and Skjej registering the assists. After Mikael Granlund went to the box for hooking against Steven Stamkos, Stamkos scored his 17th of the season. Marchessault and Josi registering the assists.

San Jose wasn’t going down without a fight when Henry Thrun scored his first of the season, assisted by Wennberg and Kovalenko. A minute and 15 seconds later, Fabian Zetterlund scored his 14th goal of the season on a backhand shot. Smith and Granlund registering the assists.

The 26th ranked powerplay went to work when Cole Smith was assessed a match penalty for a hit on Ty Dellandrea. Celebrini scored his 15th goal of the season assisted by Granlund and Eklund.

After a quiet start to the third, Nashville took the lead at 8:16 when Fedor Svechkov scored his sixth of the season on a wrist shot. Skjej and ‘Heureux registering the assists.

The Sharks will be back in action on Saturday against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers. The last time these two teams faced off was on December 7th when the Sharks fell 3-1, Toffoli registering the lone goal.