Steven Stamkos gave the Preds a 6-1 advantage with a power-play goal in the second stanza, and although the Sharks added two more before the night was done, Nashville locked things down and prevailed to begin their massive three-game homestand. 

“We know the standings,” Preds winger Jonathan Marchessault said. “We know they’re right behind us… We took care of business tonight, and we’ve got to focus on the next game. What makes us successful, I think it’s when we’re a little bit more connected in our breakouts, and it’s giving options to our defensemen, giving options with our center, a little lower for when you’re just passing the puck, a little bit more than just shoving it somewhere else. I think that makes a big difference in our game and our start tonight.”

The Predators are now down to 11 games remaining in the campaign, and Tuesday’s statement against a San Jose team they’ll face two more times over the next few weeks confirmed yet again the belief in the Nashville room they’re certainly capable of securing a postseason berth. 

Of course, there are still plenty of tests ahead, but after that first-period outburst, they’re now one step closer to making that goal a reality. 

“It’s huge,” Skjei said of beating the Sharks. “We know that we’re playing them three times coming down the stretch, and they’re right behind us in the standings. I mean, every game from here on out, it’s going to be a playoff type game for us, and the points are so important. We know where each other are in the standings, and we really wanted to have a good first, and clearly, we definitely did.”

Notes: 

Nashville’s lineup remained unchanged from game to game with Ozzy Wiesblatt and Justin Barron serving as healthy scratches against the Sharks. 

Per NHL PR, the Predators became just the sixth team since 2009-10 (when real-time data was officially tracked) to convert on five of their first seven shots in a game. They joined the Rangers (6 of 7; March 19, 2023), Kraken (6 of 7; Jan. 14, 2023), Capitals (5 of 7; Nov. 2, 2024), Bruins (5 of 7; Jan. 6, 2018) and Coyotes (5 of 7; March 28, 2013).

Nashville’s homestand continues on Thursday night when they host Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils before the Montreal Canadiens come to town on Saturday evening.