Sharks 3, Predators 1
Joe Pavelski scored to snap a tie with just under six minutes remaining in the third period as the San Jose Sharks continued their impressive road trip with a 3-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
Pavelski tallied again just over 4 1/2 minutes later and Calder Trophy finalist Logan Couture netted a shorthanded goal for his second in as many contests for San Jose.
Antti Niemi turned aside 19 shots for the Sharks, who improved to 3-0-0 on their four-game road trip and recorded their 15th victory in 20 meetings against the Predators.
Only 57 seconds after rookie Craig Smith tied the game 1-1, Pavelski regained the lead for San Jose after backhanding a shot past Pekka Rinne with 5:51 remaining. Pavelski added his fourth goal in three contests and sixth of the season.
With defenseman Justin Braun in the box serving a holding penalty, Martin Havlat skated up the ice and wristed a shot from just inside the blue line. Rinne made the initial save, but Couture cleaned up the rebound and tucked the puck past the Vezina Trophy finalist with 5:38 remaining in the first period.
Rinne finished with 33 saves for Nashville, which fell to 0-2-1 at home this season. The Predators have dropped five of their last six overall (1-4-1).