Niemi makes 35 saves to shut out Predators for 2nd time this season in Sharks' 2-0 victory

Friday, 03.13.2015 / 1:25 AM The Canadian Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Antti Niemi made 35 saves to shut out Nashville for the second time this season, and Tomas Hertl scored a power-play goal late in the second period to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 2-0 victory over the Predators on Thursday night.

Niemi followed up a 29-save performance in December with another strong game against Nashville to lead the Sharks to their fourth win in five games. Just as in that 2-0 win on Dec. 13, it was Hertl who delivered the winning goal against Pekka Rinne. Tommy Wingels added an empty-netter.

Rinne made 19 saves for the Predators, who have lost seven of eight games to fall into a tie for first in the Central Division with St. Louis. The Blues have two games in hand.

The Sharks moved within three points of Los Angeles and Calgary, who currently hold the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. Those teams each have a game in hand.

Niemi followed an impressive 39-save performance on Monday against Pittsburgh with another big outing. He robbed Craig Smith while sprawled on the ice in the second period and made key saves on two third-period power plays for Nashville to protect the 1-0 lead.

Niemi later made a pad save on Mike Fisher, who came in alone short-handed with less than 2 minutes to play.

The Sharks struggled to generate many shots against Rinne through most of the first two periods and looked discombobulated on their first three power plays that generated just two shots.

But coach Todd McLellan sent out the second unit to start the man advantage after Mattias Ekholm was called for slashing Joe Pavelski late in the second period, and it immediately paid off.

Chris Tierney won the opening faceoff and got the puck back to Justin Braun, who put a shot on net. Hertl was there for the rebound and swept a backhand past Rinne for his first power-play goal since Nov. 1.

In fact, it was the first power-play goal scored by someone other than the five-man first unit since Melker Karlsson got one against the New York Rangers on Jan. 10.

The teams were scoreless in the first period despite Nashville outshooting San Jose 14-6, and the Sharks having a pair of power plays. San Jose had the best chances but Logan Couture and Tierney missed the net from in close, and Hertl had a goal waved off because he knocked Rinne into the net.

NOTES: Nashville is 0-for-16 on the power play in the last six games. ... The Predators have allowed the first goal in 12 of the past 13 games. ... The Sharks have scored first in seven straight. ... San Jose had scored in the first period in nine straight games. ... The Predators began a three-game California swing that finishes with games in Los Angeles and Anaheim this weekend.

Back to top