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Sharks, Predators meet for first time since playoffs

Oct 26, 2006 - 1:17 PM San Jose (7-3-0) at Nashville (4-3-1) 8:00 pm EDT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - The San Jose Sharks look to begin where they left off against the Nashville Predators - with a win.

The Sharks, who are on their third leg of a five-game road trip, face the Predators on Thursday.

In the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs last season, San Jose took the final four contests of its five-game series with Nashville.

However, the Sharks will have to bounce back from a 2-1 shortcoming to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Steve Bernier scored a goal on the power play and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov made 37 saves for San Jose, which was outshot, 39-23.

Martin Erat netted his fourth goal of the season and defenseman Shea Weber added two assists, but the Predators fell short, 4-3, in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks last Saturday.

Netminder Tomas Vokoun denied 42 shots for Nashville, which went 0-for-6 with the man advantage.

The two teams split four regular-season meetings last campaign, but San Jose won the last two.