Predators at Sharks
The San Jose Sharks will attempt to secure their 14th playoff berth in 15 seasons on Saturday when they host the Nashville Predators. The Sharks' initial bid to become the first Western Conference team to gain entry into the NHL's second season went by the boards as they saw their six-game winning streak halted with Thursday's 4-2 setback versus Florida.
"Sure, every time you lose a game it's opportunity lost, but you're not going to win every game the rest of the way," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. "Two weeks ago, we were seven points back. I think we're in a pretty good spot, and we worked awful hard to get there." Kevin Labanc scored versus the Panthers to boost his point total to seven (two goals, five assists) in his last seven games for the Sharks, who fell to 12-2-1 in their last 15 contests at SAP Center. Nashville has dropped a pair of 5-4 setbacks to San Jose this season, with Viktor Arvidsson collecting two goals and an assist in the Oct. 23 tilt while his goal in Thursday 3-1 victory at Los Angeles gave him at least 29 for the third straight season. "I feel a bit faster this year than I was last year. I feel like I kind of choose my shots a little bit more this year and hold on to pucks sometimes that I've shot years before," the 25-year-old Swede said.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), NBCS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (40-27-5): Although Colton Sissons recorded his eighth multi-point performance of the season and first since Jan. 7 on Thursday, the 25-year-old was pleased with the team's effort against the Kings as it moved to within one point of Central Division-leading Winnipeg. "It's probably the best game we've played in recent weeks," Sissons said. "It feels good to put a complete effort in from start to finish and to just have everybody step up and play their best game. It feels good." Ryan Johansen set up three goals in the series with San Jose and has notched three of the club-best 46 assists in his last three games to move to within one point of 400 for his career.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (43-20-8): Evander Kane, who will return to the lineup on Saturday after sitting out the last six games, admitted he was touched by the outpouring of support he received after revealing the loss of the 26-week-old daughter he and his wife were expecting. "It really makes you appreciate how special the hockey community is. It was pretty humbling to have so many people reach out," said the 27-year-old Kane, who is San Jose's third-leading goal scorer (27. Logan Couture, who has 24 goals this season, has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games to remain stuck on 499 career points.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville G Pekka Rinne boasts a 12-7-4 career mark with one shutout, a 1.92 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in 24 appearances versus San Jose.
2. Sharks D Marc-Edouard Vlasic has one goal and four assists in his last three games.
3. Predators C Craig Smith has three goals in his last four games overall and two tallies and an assist against San Jose this season.