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Sharks vs. Predators Game 3: It’s a series again

We have a series in Nashville. The Sharks dropped Game 3 on the road by a 4–1 score as the Predators cut their series lead to 2–1. So far the Sharks’ second round matchup is playing out the same way their first round series with the Kings did—they’ll hope that continues when the series resumes Thursday night. You didn’t expect a sweep, did you?

Shea Weber scored the game winner for Nashville late in the second period, blasting a puck over Martin Jones‘ glove with the Sharks and Predators skating 4-on-4. A series of penalties made it difficult for San Jose to put together a push after going down 2–1, and Pekka Rinne was up to the task whenever the Sharks got pucks through to the net.

Patrick Marleau put the Sharks up 1–0 halfway through the first, catching Rinne way out of position to score his second goal of the playoffs. With both Weber and Roman Josi in front of him at the blue line, Marleau used his incredible speed to race past Nashville’s top defensive pair and deposit the puck behind Rinne, who fell down trying to get back to his net from the edge of the faceoff circle.

Nashville tied it up at 1–1 with Joonas Donskoi in the penalty box for four minutes early in the second. After the Sharks killed the first penalty, James Neal got the Predators on the board with a one-timer that beat Jones through traffic. Ten minutes later Weber gave Nashville its first lead since Game 1.

Jones kept the deficit at one in the final seconds of the second period, stopping Miikka Salomäki on a breakaway following a rare offensive zone turnover on the power play by Joe Thornton, but Colin Wilson made it 3–1 Nashville at 6:55 of the third thanks to some bad defensive zone coverage by San Jose.

Filip Forsberg made it 4–1 after a slashing penalty to Brenden Dillon gave Nashville its fifth power play of the game with six minutes left.

Sharks goals (assists): Patrick Marleau (Tomas Hertl, Marc-Edouard Vlasic)

[Fancy Stats] – [Predators Reaction] – [TOI Log] – [Event Summary] – [Faceoff Report] – [PBP Log]

Fear the Fin’s Three Stars

1) Shea Weber

2) Pekka Rinne

3) Patrick Marleau

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