The San Jose Sharks will try to extend their points streak
to nine games tonight, when they welcome the Nashville Predators to HP
Pavilion.
San Jose has gone 7-0-1 in its last eight games, winning six in a row before a
shootout loss in Detroit last Thursday. However, the Sharks rebounded against
the club that beat the Red Wings in last year's Stanley Cup Finals, handing
the Penguins a 5-0 pounding on Saturday.
Joe Pavelski returned from a broken foot that had sidelined him since October
3 to notch a goal and an assist, while Evgeni Nabokov stopped all 27 shots
fired his way for his second shutout of the season and 49th of his career.
"[Nabokov] has been tremendous lately. He's really played well," Sharks head
coach Todd McLellan said.
Dan Boyle and Manny Malhotra also had a goal and an assist each for the
Sharks, who improved to 5-0-1 at home this season. Dany Heatley and Jamie
McGinn added goals in the victory.
While the Sharks play the middle portion of a three-game homestand tonight,
the Predators head to San Jose to continue a four-game road trip. They have
split the first two tests, getting blanked 4-0 in Anaheim on Thursday before
Saturday's 3-1 victory in Los Angeles.
Dan Ellis started in net for the first time since October 28, when he gave up
three goals on 10 shots versus the Wild and was pulled early. He halted 27
shots versus the Kings.
Defensemen Francis Bouillon and Cody Franson scored goals, as did forward Joel
Ward in helping Nashville to its fourth win in five games.
"I was looking for that goal for a long time," Bouillon said. "I had a few
chances at the beginning of the season, but it was a really important goal and
I was at the right spot at the right time."
Nashville, which ends its swing on Thursday in St. Louis, continues to play
without J.P. Dumont (upper body), Shea Weber (foot) and Colin Wilson (groin).
The Predators have lost six of their last eight to the Sharks overall, and
three of four and eight of their last 10 trips to San Jose.
Ellis is 1-2-0 with a 2.99 goals-against average versus the Sharks, while
fellow netminder Pekka Rinne is 1-0-1 against them with a 1.92 GAA.
Nabokov is 12-8-1 with a pair of ties and 2.11 GAA lifetime versus the
Predators.
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