• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Predators seek revenge against Sharks

Oct 20, 2007 - 4:28 PM Nashville (2-4-0) at San Jose (3-3-1) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators would like nothing more than to snap their four-game losing streak against a team that has ended their Stanley Cup hopes in each of the past two seasons.

The Predators head to HP Arena on Saturday to play the San Jose Sharks - the team that beat them in five games during the first-round of last season's playoffs. Nashville suffered the exact same fate at the hands of the Sharks during the 2005-06 postseason.

If the Predators hope to end their current skid, they need to step up defensively. The team has allowed 20 goals during the losing streak with 18 of those being surrendered by goaltender Chris Mason.

Mason has seen his goals-against average rise from 1.01 after his first two starts - both wins - to 3.10.

The Sharks have their own problems, however, alternating wins and losses. The offense also has yet to find its rhythm as center Joe Thornton is the only player with more than five points.

Center Patrick Marleau, who scored 78 points in 77 contests last season, is off to a slow start with just one goal and two assists through seven games. He has gone six games without a goal.