NHL: Sharks defeat Predators, take 1-0 lead in series

April 11, 2007

''Sharks lead series 1-0. (Best of Seven)''

Game Recap
The San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators Wednesday night, taking a 1-0 series lead in the 2007 NHL Playoffs. It was the Sharks second victory over the Predators this season in five meetings between the two teams. It was a tough defeat for the Predators to swallow, giving up the deciding goal with 8:14 left in the second overtime.

After the Sharks took a 4-2 lead in the middle of the second period, Alexander Radulov scored his second goal of the game in the third period with 7:55 remaining in regulation. With about a minute to go, and a one goal lead, the Sharks' Patrick Rissmiller gave up the puck twice leading to a J.P. Dumont goal. Dumont's second goal of the game came with :51 remaining in regulation to knot it up at four goals apiece.

Neither team managed to score in the first overtime, although the Nashville Predators dominated with a noticeably large number of shots. The Predators continued to pile on the shots at the Sharks' Evgeni Nabokov in the second overtime period. The final score came from Patrick Rissmiller, who buried one behind Tomas Vokoun, forgiving his missteps which led to the late Nashville goal. The goal lifted the Sharks to the 5-4 victory and a 1-0 series lead.

Evgeni Nabokov picked up the win for the Sharks, stopping 39 of 43 shots faced, allowing four goals while Nashville's Tomas Vokoun stopped 33 of 38 faced shots, and was saddled with the loss.

The Sharks have now won five straight playoff games against the Predators, dating back to their Western Conference Quarterfinal series in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This was also the Sharks' first overtime victory in the playoffs since beating St. Louis in the first round of the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The series is just getting started, and the Sharks will face the Predators again on Friday at 8:00 PM (CDT), when Nashville will try to even the best of seven series at home in Nashville Arena before the teams head to HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Three Stars of the Game

 * #1 = Patrick Rissmiller, C, San Jose Sharks - Game-winning goal, 1 Assist
 * #2 = Alexander Radulov, RW, ''Nashville Predators- 2 Goals
 * #3 = J.P. Dumont, RW, Nashville Predators - 2 Goals