Predators vs. Sharks 2016 final score: Five-goal third period pushes San Jose past Nashville
It took 40 minutes of hockey for the Sharks to wake up, and boy did they ever in the third.
The Sharks outshot the Predators for most of the game, but it didn’t feel like it as Nashville got most of the better scoring opportunities in the first two periods.
A scoreless first gave way to a favorable second for Nashville. Mike Fisher gave the Predators the opening goal 4:33 into the second period on a left circle snipe. The Sharks second penalty of the night sent the Predators on the power play, where Fisher's quick shot got past Martin Jones for the 1-0 Nashville lead.
A Sharks power play of their own evened the score two and a half minutes into the third. As time was winding down on the extra man advantage, Tomas Hertl was open at the side of the cage and snuck the puck in between the pipe and Pekka Rinne for the 1-1 equalizer.
The goal woke the Sharks up, who then started to outpace the Predators. Tommy Wingels had Rinne beat during a furious series of Sharks pressure, but was only stopped by the post in the dying minutes of the third.
Wingels comes close pic.twitter.com/JCXWNlMGJ6
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 30, 2016
Joel Ward got behind the Predators defense just moments after and made Nashville pay. A toe-drag got separation from Rinne as Ward was able to pot the 2-1 game winner around the goaltender's leg on the backhand. Joonas Donskoi made the play happen with the pass to Ward that split the Nashville defense in the offensive zone.
What a beauty pic.twitter.com/Tg0zx3LoUf
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 30, 2016
Logan Couture extended the San Jose lead with the Sharks' second power play goal on a backhanded deflection in front of Rinne that made it 3-1.
A double deflection off of Brent Burns' skate and Ryan Johansen's face from a point shot got past Jones with 1:49 to play that made it 3-2 but Couture's empty net goal sealed the deal 4-2 just 20 seconds later.
Wingels put the dagger in San Jose with one more empty net goal after blocking a shot from Shea Weber.
