Sharks defeat Predators for third straight win

SAN JOSE --Joe Thornton got his 1,400th NHL point, and Martin Jones made 19 saves to help the San Jose Sharks defeat the Nashville Predators 4-1 at SAP Center on Wednesday.
Joonas Donskoi, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Mikkel Boedker scored for the Sharks (7-5-0), who got their season-high third straight win.

WATCH: [All Predators vs. Sharks highlights]
"It was just a good, hard-fought win," Pavelski said. "I think you understand that guys in here care. We weren't happy with our start, and the last five, six, seven games, it's been much better. It's just a continuous process of working towards that and keeping our game at a certain level we want to keep it at."
Roman Josi scored for the Predators (5-5-2), who lost for the fourth time in their past five games (1-3-1).
"We're not getting the [offensive] zone time we want," Josi said. "We're not [creating turnovers]. We're forechecking hard, but we're just not working as a five-man unit. It's the same in the D zone. I think it starts in the D zone."
Thornton got point No. 1,400 in the second period with an assist on Pavelski's goal. He passed Jari Kurri for 20th in NHL history in a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday and is nine points from tying Dale Hawerchuk for 19th.
"I think the perspective is you look at the 20 guys on that list with him," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "That's pretty eye-opening and pretty amazing. There's not many words for it. For the people out there that wonder what type of accomplishment that is, I think just take a look at that list. That's rare air."

San Jose went 1-for-8 on the power play. Nashville was 0-for-4.
The Predators have been called for 81 penalties, most in the NHL.
"We've been undisciplined throughout the beginning of the season, and that's obviously an area we need to improve," said goalie Pekka Rinne, who made 19 saves. "It kills our momentum. At times we were playing pretty good, and then we'd take a penalty. We have to get off to a better start. You can always blame the penalties, but tonight is a good example. It wasn't good enough. In all areas we have to be better."
Donskoi gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 15:49 of the first period when he took a pass from defenseman Tim Heed and beat Rinne from close range.
Pavelski tipped in defenseman Brenden Dillon's shot from above the left face-off circle at 10:04 of the second period for his 299th NHL goal to make it 2-0.
Josi skated through traffic and beat Jones with a backhand to the far side from the left circle to cut the lead to 2-1 at 10:04 of the second. It was the defenseman's third goal.
Vlasic scored a power-play goal at 13:50 of the second to give San Jose a 3-1 lead. His slap shot from the right point deflected off Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban's skate and past Rinne.
Boedker scored at 13:43 of the third period to make it 4-1.

Vlasic left the game with an apparent head injury at 1:02 of the third. He had the puck in the right corner behind the Sharks net when Predators center Ryan Johansen checked him from behind. Johansen, who received a minor penalty for boarding, appeared to make contact with his right shoulder to Vlasic's head, which hit the glass.
DeBoer didn't have an update on Vlasic's condition after the game.
"I haven't had a chance to see him or talk to him yet, but anytime you're going back for pucks you try not to get hit in the head like that," Dillon said. "We have a couple days before our next game on Saturday, so hopefully he's OK."

Goal of the game

Pavelski's tip-in at 8:17 of the second period.

Save of the game

Jones stopping Johansen's wrist shot on a breakaway with 1:43 left in the second period.

Highlight of the game

Josi's goal at 10:04 of the second period.

They said it

"We had opportunities to execute in the offensive zone and we didn't capitalize. Not a lot of opportunities for them, but the ones they did get, they made the most of. We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot with the penalties." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette
"A lot of emotions on the ice. That's the kind of effort we have to put in to win in this league. A lot of 1-on-1 battles. I think we were pretty strong all over the ice in 1-on-1 battles." -- Sharks forward Joonas Donskoi

Need to know

Sharks rookie defenseman Joakim Ryan, who got his first NHL point with an assist on Boedker's goal, set a Sharks record with nine blocked shots. ... Josi led the Predators with four shots on goal and had another six attempts blocked.

What's next

Predators: At the Anaheim Ducks on Friday (10 p.m. ET; PRIME, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
Sharks: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, PRIME, NHL.TV)