• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Sharks try to rebound in home test vs. Preds

Mar 8, 2011 - 4:12 PM (Sports Network) - The San Jose Sharks will try to bounce back from their first loss in nearly a month tonight as they take on a struggling Nashville Predators club at HP Pavilion.

The Sharks had a season-best eight-game winning streak halted on Saturday in a close 3-2 loss to the Stars. It was San Jose's first setback since Feb. 13 and was just its fourth in its past 21 games (17-3-1).

Kyle Wellwood and Patrick Marleau scored the goals and Antti Niemi made 25 saves for the Sharks, who also had a seven-game home winning streak end with their first loss in San Jose since Jan. 13. The club is now 2-1 on a six-game homestand.

"I think we were a little scattered. I think we had a few lapses and gave the momentum back. But it was a playoff-type game. Both teams played really hard," said Sharks defenseman Jason Demers.

The Sharks will next try to avoid losing two straight for the first time since Feb. 11-13 and have a four-point edge over the Coyotes for first place in the Pacific Division.

San Jose blueliner Dan Boyle missed his fourth game in a row with an upper- body injury and is questionable for tonight.

Niemi is 2-2-0 with a 2.50 goals-against average in his career against the Predators and has 25 victories on the season, one shy of the 26 he posted as a rookie with the Blackhawks a season ago. He should get the start tonight, his 22nd in a row, even though Antero Niittymaki was activated from injured reserve prior to Saturday's game.

Marleau had the overtime-winner when the Sharks visited the Predators on Feb. 15 and claimed their first victory in three games against Nashville this season. Though San Jose had a three-game series home winning streak end against Nashville in Jan. 8, it has still won five of seven and 10 of the past 13 in this series played at the Shark Tank.

While the Sharks have stormed up the standings, the Preds find themselves tied for ninth in the conference with two other teams and two points back of a playoff spot. However, Nashville is only five points behind fourth-place Chicago as well.

The Predators lost for the sixth time in eight games on Sunday, dropping a 3-2 decision in Calgary. Martin Erat had a goal and an assist, earning praise from head coach Barry Trotz afterwards.

"I thought Marty Erat had an exceptional game for us up front," Trotz said.

Ryan Suter also scored and Pekka Rinne made 33 saves for the Predators, who are 6-9-3 in their last 18 and 1-1-1 on a four-game road trip. They have lost seven of their past nine on the road overall.

Rinne is 3-1-2 with a 2.42 GAA in his career versus San Jose.

Nashville may be without forward Patric Hornqvist this evening after he did not practice on Monday due to an illness. Hornqvist leads the Predators with 18 goals and is tied for third with 34 points.