National Hockey League
Nashville 5, San Jose 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 21, 2023
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Mitch Dunning, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: Kyle Flemington, CJ Murray
Attendance: 17222

Tommy Novak scored two goals and Juuse Saros made 31 saves to propel the host Nashville Predators to a 5-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Nashville's Kiefer Sherwood and Luke Evangelista each collected a goal and an assist and Samuel Fagemo scored a power-play goal in his season debut.

Gustav Nyquist notched two assists for the Predators, who now own an 11-game point streak (10-0-1) against the Sharks dating back to March 16, 2019. Nashville hasn't lost at home to San Jose since Oct. 23, 2018.

Tomas Hertl scored midway through the third period and Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves for the Sharks, who remain the NHL's lone winless team (0-4-1).

Nashville kept its power play humming after scoring twice with the man advantage in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Fagemo fired a shot from the top of the right circle that sailed past Blackwood to open the scoring with 2:45 remaining in the first period. The goal was the first of the season for Fagemo, who was claimed off waivers on Oct. 2.

The Predators doubled the advantage at 2:06 of the second period after Sherwood fed an unmarked Novak in front of the net.

Sherwood wired a one-timer from high in the right circle that beat Blackwood just 12 seconds later to push Nashville's lead to 3-0. The goal was Sherwood's first of the season.

Novak completed his two-goal performance by depositing Nyquist's centering feed past Blackwood for a power-play tally at 2:49 of the third period. Novak's goal was his fourth of the campaign.

Hertl cleaned up a rebound off the end boards to deny Saros' bid for his second shutout of the season. Evangelista, however, made a nifty move on a breakaway to cap the scoring with 6:34 remaining in the third period.

The offensive onslaught allowed Saros to improve to 10-2-1 in 13 career appearances against San Jose.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
San Jose   Nashville
Tomas Hertl 1 Points Tommy Novak 2
Tomas Hertl 1 Goals Tommy Novak 2
Mario Ferraro 1 Assists Gustav Nyquist 2
N/A Power Play Goals Tommy Novak 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mackenzie Blackwood .853 Save Percentage Juuse Saros .969
Mackenzie Blackwood 29 Saves Juuse Saros 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
San Jose 32 1 0-2 3-5 15 32
Nashville 34 5 2-5 2-2 9 25
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game at home against Vancouver. The Predators have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • San Jose will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Sharks have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.