Sharks continue surge with 2-0 win over Nashville

SAN JOSE – A 2-0 victory over the visiting Nashville Predators lifted the San Jose Sharks into sixth place in the competitive Western Conference Saturday night.
Joe Thornton assisted on the goal in the first period and notched an empty-netter in the closing 1:34 of play as the Sharks moved to 38 points after 32 games. The Sharks continue the homestand with dates against Edmonton on Thursday and St. Louis on Saturday.
Nashville had 12 wins in its past 16 games, yet could not beat San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi with 29 shots on net. The Sharks have won seven of their past eight games.
“Our start was really good tonight. It won the game for us really,” said Thornton. “We’re competing hard every night.”
Nashville’s Pekka Rinne brought a 19-5-1 record into the game. The 32-year-old goaltender lost the opportunity for his fourth shut-out of the season when Tomas Hertl scored 5:01 into play.
Defenseman Scott Hannan ignited the scoring play by racing into the Predator zone with the puck. Thornton controlled the puck along the right boards, then found Joe Pavelski open in the high slot. Pavelski’s quick pass to Hertl at the front of the crease allowed the winger to bury the rebound of his first shot against Rinne.
Niemi finished with his second shut-out of the season, 29^th of his career.
“He was very sharp when he needed to be,” coach Todd McLellan said of Niemi. Nashville sent 18 shots Niemi’s way in the third period after producing a total of 11 shots after 40 minutes.
Nashville took out Rinne for an extra skater with 1:46 left in the third period. San Jose closed the scoring 12 seconds later. Tommy Wingels pulled the puck out of the Shark zone, Logan Couture one-timed the puck to Thornton and the center found the back of the net from a tough angle below the left circle.
Thornton’s goal was the 350^th of his career.