Clowe scores in shootout to lead Sharks over Preds

[March 16, 2012]  SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Ryane Clowe scored in a shootout and Antti Niemi came up with a big save to give the San Jose Sharks a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Joe Thornton also scored for the Sharks, who ended a three-game home losing streak and drew within one point of Colorado for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Patric Hornqvist scored as the Predators snapped a three-game winning streak but gained a point on Detroit for the fourth playoff spot in the West.

Pekka Rinne made 34 saves for the Predators, while Niemi stopped 32 shots for the Sharks.

Fourteen of the past 18 meetings between these two teams have been decided by one goal.

Nashville took one shot in the first 12 minutes before grabbing a 1-0 lead with 6:42 left in the first period with a power-play goal. Hornqvist took a pass from Mike Fisher to the left of the net, swung around and fired it past Niemi.

The Sharks tied it early in the third period on Thornton's power-play goal. The Sharks' captain was in the right spot when a shot deflected off Nashville defender Hal Gill in front of the goal and he slapped the puck into an open net.

The Predators outshot the Sharks 10-4 in the third period.

Dan Boyle got behind the Predators' defense midway through the extra period and had a 1 on 1 with Rinne, who somehow kept the puck out of the net.

Niemi also recorded a tough save with less than 25 seconds left in overtime.

NOTES: Nashville C Paul Gaustad left the ice midway through the final period with an apparent right wrist injury. ... Sharks F Martin Havlat was activated from injured reserve and played in his first game since Dec. 17. ... Hornqvist has four goals in his last five games. ... Predators F Martin Erat has seven points in his last six games. ... Thornton has 48 points in 36 games against Nashville. ... Sharks F Patrick Marleau has recorded an assist in each of his last three games.

[Associated Press]

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