Sharks 2, Predators 0: Antti Niemi turned aside 35 shots for his fifth shutout of the season as San Jose edged visiting Nashville for its fourth win in the last five contests.

Tomas Hertl snapped a 13-game goalless streak with a power-play tally and assisted on Tommy Wingels' empty-net goal for the Sharks. Niemi made 12 stops in the third period to notch his 35th career shutout and Chris Tierney had two assists as San Jose closed within three points of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Pekka Rinne made 19 saves, but was denied his 200th career victory as the Predators lost for the seventh time in eight games to drop into a tie with St. Louis for first place in the Central Division. Nashville was 0-of-2 on the power play and has converted only two of 37 opportunities with the man advantage over the last 12 games.

Niemi turned aside 14 shots and Nashville denied San Jose on two power-play chances to keep the game scoreless after one period. The Sharks finally broke through with the man advantage to open the scoring with 3:19 left in the second session as Hertl tracked down a rebound in front and backhanded a shot past Rinne.

San Jose’s Patrick Marleau went off for holding 7:26 into the third and Niemi held the fort, making a big stop of Nashville defenseman Roman Josi’s blast. Niemi made big stops on Craig Smith and Mike Fisher late before Wingels capitalized on the power play with Rinne pulled to seal it with 59 seconds left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tierney’s two assists gave him four points in the last four games. ….San Jose D Matt Irwin missed his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury. … Josi finished with seven blocks and five shots on goal for the Predators.