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Predators can take over league's best record

Feb 14, 2007 - 4:14 PM San Jose (36-19-1) at Nashville (38-16-3) 8:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Thanks in part to one of the best home records in the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators are on the verge of posting the league's best overall mark.

Despite losses in four of their last six contests, the Predators can move past the Buffalo Sabres for the NHL's top record when they face the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

Nashville has a five-point lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the West and trails Buffalo by one for the overall mark. The Predators are 20-4-3 at home and four goals shy of becoming the first Western team to reach 200 this season.

A victory would give Nashville its second-highest single-season total in franchise history, trailing only last season's 49.

The Predators are coming off Saturday's 4-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings. Nashville yielded the first four goals before Dam Hamhuis netted his fifth of the season.

Playing the third contest of an eight-game road trip, the Sharks have taken three of their last four outings and are one point in back of the Ducks in the Pacific Division race.

San Jose is coming off Tuesday's 6-5 triumph over the St. Louis Blues. Reigning Maurice Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo had a goal and three assists for the Sharks.

The teams have split their first two encounters this season, with San Jose posting a 3-1 victory on December 9.