Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (99) goes after the puck past San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) in the second period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tue Mar 24, 2026 (AP News photo)
By Mary Walsh
The San Jose Sharks lost 6-3 to the Nashville Predators Tuesday. Filip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista and Brady Skjei scored for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 27 saves for the win. Adam Gaudette scored for the Sharks and Will Smith scored twice. Alex Nedeljkovic made 13 saves in the loss. This was the Sharks’ fifth loss in a row.
Discussing the Sharks troubles getting out of their own zone, Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic said:
“It’s simple hockey. We get the puck in the zone and then we’re free to make plays. Absolutely we have a lot of skill in this locker room, a lot of talent. When we get in the zone, that’s where the creativity is going to come out. But we have to get in the zone first of all.”
Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky had a similar assessment. He said: “Yeah, execution, you know, breaking out pucks, managing it through the neutral zone, playing a little bit more physical at times.”
The first period was an absolute rout. The Predators scored five goals to the Sharks’ single tally. Filip Forsberg scored at 2:34, tipping a shot by Fedor Svechkov. An assist also went to Jonathan Marchessault.
Adam Gaudette tied it at 6:25, tipping a shot from Shakir Mukhamadullin with an assist to Mario Ferraro.
After that, the Predators got goals from Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista and Brady Skjei. Those all came between 7:49 and 16:36 of the period.
The shot count did not reflect that score, 9-5 Predators. The penalty count was also unremarkable, with just one call against the Sharks. That was the only penalty called.
The Sharks improved in the second period. The Predators did not scored until 12:38. Then, it was a goal from Steven Stamkos on the power play. Assists went to Forsberg and Marchessault.
The Sharks trimmed the five-goal lead with a goal from Will Smith at 17:26. That goal was also on the power play, with a two-man advantage.
The Sharks outshot the Predators 15-6 in the second period. They also stayed on the right side of the penalty problem, taking just one penalty while the Predators took three.
Will Smith scored a second goal at 1:40 of the third period. He scored with a backhand, assisted by Igor Chernyshov and Vincent Desharnais. That was the only goal of the period.
The Sharks outshot the Predators 10-4 in the third period but could not dig their way out of that first period hole.
The Sharks next play on Thursday at 5:00 PM PT in St. Louis against the Blues.
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