Predators at Sharks
THE STORY: The San Jose Sharks try to bring Pekka Rinne back down to earth when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Hours after signing a seven-year, $49 million contract extension, Rinne posted his second shutout in three games and league-leading third of the season against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, which also was his 29th birthday. Nashville improved to 1-0-1 on its season-high five-game road trip. The Sharks began their six-game homestand Thursday with a 4-3 shootout triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins. San Jose trailed by two goals after 40 minutes but rallied to post its sixth win in seven games.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), CSN California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (6-4-2): Nashville has struggled against the Sharks of late, losing 15 of their last 20 meetings. The Predators have not fared well in San Jose as they are 7-19-1 in their last 27 visits. Rinne has started each of Nashville's first 12 games this season, a franchise record. Mike Fisher (head) and Sergei Kostitsyn (leg) returned from injuries Thursday but failed to get on the scoresheet.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (7-4-0): Coach Todd McLellan was happy his team battled back for a victory Thursday but extremely disappointed in San Jose's play early in the game as it fell into a 2-0 hole just 2:04 into the contest. "We had no business winning that game after the first period. But we found a way to get back into it," McLellan said. "It's two points, but we'll be discussing our starts. There's no doubt about that."
OVERTIME:
1. Nashville's Patric Hornqvist extended his goal-scoring streak to four games Thursday. Hornqvist has scored all five of his tallies during the run after failing to record a point over his first seven contests.
2. Joe Pavelski, who had his six-game points streak snapped in Thursday's win over Pittsburgh, scored a pair of goals in San Jose's 3-1 triumph at Nashville on Oct. 25.