The San Jose Sharks remained winless on the season as they once again gave up goals in rapid succession, digging themselves a hole they couldn’t escape in what became a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Tommy Novak scored twice and goalie Juuse Saros made 31 saves to lead the Predators at Bridgestone Arena, as the Sharks fell to 0-4-1 on the season having only scored seven goals in their first five games.
Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista each had a goal and an assist and Samuel Fagemo also scored for the Predators, winners of two in a row. Gustav Nyquist had two assists.
Tomas Hertl scored and Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves for the winless Sharks.
Fagemo scored the game’s first goal at 17:15 of the opening period with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle with Nashville on a power play.
Novak and Sherwood scored goals 12 seconds apart early in the second to break the game open.
Novak struck again at 2:47 of the third on a power play. His four goals this season lead the Predators.
Already, in four of five games, the Sharks have allowed multiple goals less than two minutes apart.
“I thought there were some really good things going on for a while and when we were bad, we were bad,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “It’s disappointing because I thought there were a lot of good things in the first period and all of a sudden, we give up a goal on the power play, lose a stick, don’t block a shot.
“And again, we gave up two right away and dug ourselves a hole. Just very inconsistent.”
Hertl snapped Saros’ shutout bid at 10:33 of the third from in close, and Evangelista scored his first of the season for Nashville at 13:26 of the third.
After the game, Hertl showed his displeasure after some Sharks players didn’t go after Predators defenseman Roman Josi late in the game following a collision with Blackwood, with the score already out of hand.
“I just don’t like the last 10 minutes because we just left (Blackwood) alone,” Hertl said. “We have to be more together, step it up. If it’s 5-1, you have to cross-check somebody and show they can’t do anything. I’m more mad (about that) because we just left our goalie alone and we have to show them that can’t do that to us.
“It just can’t happen, especially in the last five minutes. Nobody cares if anybody takes an extra two minutes,” Hertl continued. “I think the locker room has been great. (But) our goalies, they’ve stood on their heads for us. They played really well and we have to show them that we’re there for them.”
The Sharks’ road trip continues Tuesday in Florida against the Panthers, and Hertl wants to see the Sharks be harder in front of their own net.
“We have to just be ready and show other teams that they can’t do anything with anyone,” Hertl said. “Even after that, (Nashville) had so many rebounds and we just let them play and we just left Blackie alone.
“I don’t like it at all. For sure I was mad about that.”
ACTIVE SECOND PERIOD
Sherwood was busy in Saturday’s second period. He posted a Gordie Howe hat trick, of a goal, assist, and fighting major in the span of 6:46 in the frame. In addition to his goal, Sherwood assisted on Novak’s goal at 2:06 and then fought former Predator Luke Kunin at 8:52.
Playing in his 125th NHL game, it was the first time he posted a goal, assist, and fighting major in the same game.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
Fagemo, claimed off of waivers from the Los Angeles Kings prior to the start of the season, was a healthy scratch for Nashville’s first five games. Prior to Saturday, Fagemo had two NHL goals scored in 13 career games.
Sharks defenseman Ty Emberson made his NHL debut and played 13:12 with two shots on net and three giveaways. The Sharks dressed seven defensemen and 11 forwards, with both Thomas Bordeleau and Givani Smith being healthy scratches.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Source: www.mercurynews.com