San Jose, CA – The Nashville Predators completed their final west coast swing tonight as they defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Viktor Arvidsson scored to goals in the winning effort.
The Sharks present one of the hottest scoring teams in the NHL and the Predators knew they would have to keep them out of the net. Juuse Saros started between the pipes tonight, giving Pekka Rinne a night off.
But keep your eyes on Colton Sissons who’s been playing great hockey of late. Tonight he put his Predators on the board first at 1:07 of the opening period, snatching a juicy rebound in front of the net and the Predators had the early 2-0 lead.
Now cue Viktor Arvidsson. At 4:33 of the second period Arvidsson would deflect a Filip Forsberg shot on goal that got past Martin Jones and the Predators now led 2-1.
The Sharks would come right back when Joe Thornton would take the give-and-go from Brent Burns and tap the puck past Saros and the score was even, 2-2.
At the end of the second intermission with the teams still tied at 2-2, Nashville new what was at stake and they new they needed to leave the “shark tank” with the win and they played like it.
At 7:02 of the final frame, Filip Forsberg would score on a wraparound for his 300th point of his career and with that, the Predators regained the lead, 3-2.
As the Sharks pulled their goalie late in the contest, Viktor Arvidsson would strike again, this time into the empty net at 18:54 and that would be the final score, 4-2.
Nashville fired thirty shots on goal to San Jose’s 26.
The Predators will now return home to the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena for a Tuesday night match up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.
