San Jose Sharks Will Smith (2) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a third period goal against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Thu Oct 15, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a shootout on Thursday. Mason Marchment and Will Smith scored for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini scored the winner in the shootout. Alex Nedeljkovic made 33 saves for the win. Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos scored for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 30 saves in the loss.

Mason Marchment scored his second goal of the season to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 5:30 of the first period. Marchment chased the puck down behind the net, then carried it up above the goal line before passing it to Alexander Wennberg back below the goal line. Wennberg touched it back to Tyler Toffoli, who centered it just as Marchment arrived in front of the net.

The shots were very close in the first period, 10-9 for Nashville. There was an early fight, at just 2:51, between Nicolas Hague and Zack Ostapchuk. Each team took an additional penalty (from the same players) later in the period. The Sharks power play managed one shot. Their penalty kill gave up two and had one short-handed shot.

The second period was scoreless with the shots 11-8 Sharks. The Sharks power play had one shot in two tries. Their penalty kill had one shot and gave up none in one penalty kill.

Will Smith scored at 4:28 of the th8rd period to make it 2-0 Sharks. Smith caught a pass from Michael Kesselring as he entered the zone. He carried the puck into the slot for a wrist shot. Assists went to Kesselring and Igor Chernyshov.

Ryan O’Reilly scored a power play goal at 9:05 to cut the Sharks lead to 2-1. O’Reilly used a backhand to knock in a rebound off Jonathan Marchessault’s shot. Assists went to Marchessault and Roman Josi.

Steven Stamkos put the puck off the post and into the net as the buzzer went. A review showed that he had almost a whole second left on the clock. An assist went to Filip Forsberg.

The only penalty in the third period went against the Sharks. The shots in the third period were 13-8 for the Predators. Overtime shots were 5-3 Predators.

Ivar Stenberg and Macklin Cekebrini shot for the Sharks. Celebrini scored the only shootout goal.

Ryan O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg and Ross Colton shot for the Predators.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at 4:00 PM PT in Detroit against the Red Wings.