Sharks Come Back to Top Preds

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice, but it wasn't enough as the San Jose Sharks tallied three times in the third period to come back and defeat the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena, 5-4.
The result snaps Nashville's five-game win streak and marks just the second time in the last 11 meetings in Tennessee that the Preds have dropped a decision to the Sharks.
Through two periods, the Predators were pleased with their play, but San Jose found their way back into the game and scored the winner with less than three minutes to play.

"More than anything, we just shot ourselves in the foot," Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. "We didn't take care of the game very well in the third period - just too many chances that came back the other way or just rushes from our turnovers, and against a veteran team like that, they can hurt you pretty quick."
"We made mistakes in the third that cost us, and we didn't work hard enough," Arvidsson said. "We just have to look at the game and then look forward to the next one."

The Sharks struck first with a power-play goal, but it wasn't long before Arvidsson converted on a partial breakaway to even the score after 20 minutes.
Filip Forsberg got in on the act at the 21-second mark of the middle frame, and after the Sharks tied the game at two, Nashville's top line went to work with Arvidsson finishing off a brilliant shift with helpers from Forsberg and Ryan Johansen.

Moments after the Sharks hit iron late in the second stanza, the Preds countered right back as Arvidsson found Craig Smith to wire home his fourth of the season with 15 seconds to play in the period for a 4-2 advantage.
The third belonged to the visitors with Brendan Dillon, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns beating Juuse Saros to complete the comeback and give the Sharks their third consecutive win.
"Everyone's first reaction right now is that we're really frustrated," Johansen said. "We had a good lead going into the third, and did a lot of good things. We kind of blew it, but I think you have to look at the big picture right now. We did a lot of good things, we just made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them. We need to correct a couple of things, but it wasn't like there was a big problem out there or anything like that."

Just the second loss in nine contests to start the season, the Preds aren't about to dwell on a game like this that is bound to occur for even the best teams in the League over the course of 82 games.
Instead, they'll reflect for a moment before moving forward to focus on a meeting with the upstart Devils on Thursday in New Jersey - a chance to start another streak once more.
"Until the last 10 minutes, we did a lot of good things," Johansen said. "It is what it is. We'll keep moving forward."

Notes:
Viktor Arvidsson had two goals in a game for the second time this season. Arvidsson (2g-1a) finished one point away from tying his career high for points in a single game.
Ryan Johansen now has 21 points (9g-12a) in 20 career games against the Sharks.
Nashville's top line of Arvidsson, Johansen and Filip Forsberg have now combined for 28 points through the first nine games of the season.
The Predators face the Devils in New Jersey on Thursday night (at 6 p.m. CT) before returning home to host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena (at 2 p.m).