Forsberg scores twice, Predators edge Sharks for 5th straight win

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Filip Forsberg scored twice to extend his goal streak to seven as the Nashville Predators won their second straight game against the San Jose Sharks, 6-5 at SAP Center on Thursday.

Zachary L’Heureux (68) tosses Ty Dellandrea,left, at the end of their fight – Photo by Jack Lima

Nashville came from 5-1 down to beat San Jose 7-5 in Nashville on Tuesday.

Steven Stamkos, Gustav Nyquist, and Tommy Novak scored for the Predators (18-22-7), who have won five straight. Brady Skjei had three assists, and Justus Annunen made 30 saves.

Walker Duehr (55) tips a shot past Predators goalie Justus Annunen to open the scoring for the Sharks – Photo by Jack Lima

Macklin Celebrini, Walker Duehr, and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the Sharks (14-31-6), who have lost five straight. Mikael Granlund had three assists and Yaroslav Askarov made 32 saves.

Nyquist scored a power-play goal at 3:58 of the first period, giving the Predators a 1-0 lead. Novak fed a pass from the slot to the left circle, which Nyquist one-timed into an open net.

Steven Samkos (91) and Macklin Celebrini (71) faceoff during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima

Novak made it 2-0 Predators 56 seconds later at 4:52 after Zachary L’Heureaux’s wrap-around attempt created a rebound off Askarov’s pad.

Forsberg put the Predators up 3-0 at 6:53 when he deflected Justin Barron’s shot from the right point past the blocker of Askarov.

Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov takes a shot to the chest – Photo by Jack Lima

Duehr scored his first as a member of the Sharks at 8:12 to cut the lead to 3-1. Mario Ferraro’s shot from the center point was deflected twice, first by Nikolai Kovalenko and then by Duehr over Annunen’s blocker.

Ferraro made it 3-2 at 16:34 after Granlund passed the puck to the point. Ferraro walked into the left circle and beat Annunen with a wrist shot.

Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov reaches back to stop a shot attempt by Ryan O’Reilly (90) – Photo by Jack Lima

Forsberg scored his second of the game at 1:38 of the second period to give the Predators a 4-2 lead with a wraparound to Askarov’s right.

Stamkos extended the Predators lead to 5-2 with a power-play goal at 7:07. Jonathan Marchessault’s one-timer from the left circle squeaked through Askarov for Stamkos to tap in.

Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov blocks a shot attempt – Photo by Jack Lima

Henry Thrun cut the lead to 5-3 at 12:39 with a snap-shot from the slot past Annunen’s blocker.

Zetterlund made it 5-4 at 13:54 with a tap-in goal into an empty net after Will Smith fed a pass in front.

Celebrini tied the game 5-5 at 15:21 on a power play with a wrist shot from the high slot.

Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko (15) attempts to hold off Predators Fedor Svechkov (40) as he moves around the net – Photo by Jack Lima

Fedor Svechkov gave the Predators a 6-5 lead with a power-play goal at 8:16 of the third period. Svechkov went across the blue line and then fired a wrist shot past Askarov’s blocker.