Inland Waterways » The Sharks last overcame a 3-0

SAN JOSE, Calif. - A night after giving San Jose an opening to the Pacific Division title by winning in Anaheim, the Nashville Predators might have closed it up again by beating the Sharks. Patric Hornqvist had two goals and one assist to help the Nashville Predators put a major dent into San Joses hopes for a division title by beating the Sharks 3-0 on Saturday night. "Its a missed opportunity," defenceman Dan Boyle said. "Nashville went into their building and did their job. Unfortunately, we didnt do ours to take advantage of that." Backup Carter Hutton made 35 saves in his first career shutout and Roman Josi also scored as the Predators kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating winning road games on back-to-back nights against Anaheim and San Jose — the top two teams in the Pacific Division. Nashville is six points behind Dallas for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games remaining. "Were never going to give up," Hornqvist said. "Its a long road to make the playoffs. But as long as we have a chance, were going to work as hard as we can. Obviously beating two great teams is nice. I think both of them can win the Cup. Its a good statement for our team." The Predators win in Anaheim on Friday kept the Sharks just a point behind the Ducks in the standings but San Jose couldnt capitalize two nights after an emotional home win over Los Angeles. Now the Sharks are running out of time to catch the Ducks after falling flat again against a team likely to miss the post-season. They have only three games remaining, including their next contest in Anaheim on Wednesday, but the Ducks still have five games remaining and the inside track on the division title. San Jose is assured of at least second place. "After the game we put together against L.A. to give a showing like that is unacceptable," defenceman Jason Demers said. "We didnt come out to work. We just sat back on our heels and let them take the game to us. Its disappointing and something were going to have to obviously rectify as quick as possible here." If the Sharks do end up falling short in the division it will be their play at home against some of the leagues also-rans that will be a big reason. San Jose has lost five home games since the Olympic break, all to teams that are currently out of playoff position. "Were in a race and we have to be better than that," captain Joe Thornton said. The Predators took control of the game in a dominant second period, killing off a pair of penalties and beating Antti Niemi three times. Hornqvist struck early in the period when he whacked at a rebound of Matt Cullens shot and knocked it in to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games. He added his eighth goal in the past 11 games midway through the period just after Nick Spaling came out of the penalty box. Spaling got the puck behind San Joses net and set up Hornqvist for a one-timer from the slot for his 20th goal of the season. Hornqvist then got an assist a few minutes later when Josi beat a flat-footed Demers as he drove to the net to make it 3-0. "We were emotionally not attached to the game in the second period," coach Todd McLellan said. "Were at Game 79 and the details and the system play, you should be able to do it in your sleep at this point. We didnt do that." The Sharks pressured in the third with 19 shots and two others from Brent Burns and Matt Irwin that hit posts but couldnt beat Hutton. The Predators have put together an impressive late-season run with points in seven of their past eight games. But it likely wont be enough to overcome a 1-4 homestand after the Olympic break that put Nashville in a deep hole. "This team wont quit," coach Barry Trotz said. "It hasnt quit all year. Its not going to quit. They will play right until the end. We see when the smoke clears where we stand." NOTES: Nashville swept the three-game season series and has won nine of 14 against the Sharks. ... The Sharks last overcame a 3-0 deficit in the regular season on Feb. 1, 2011, when they rallied for a 5-3 win over Phoenix. Rickey Henderson Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Kelvin Hayden. Mark McGwire Jersey http://www.cheapathleticsjerseys.com/. They showered him with "MVP! MVP!" chants. In many ways, it seemed like hed never been gone. Terry Steinbach Jersey . JOHNS, N. Kendall Graveman Jersey .com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets rewarded starting goaltender and pending restricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky with a four-year contract extension on Friday.SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cory Hodgson scored in the fourth round of the shootout and Ryan Miller made 47 saves for the Buffalo Sabres, who overcame a pair of blown third-period leads to get their third win in 17 games this season, 5-4 over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night. Henrik Tallinder, Cody McCormick, Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis also scored for the Sabres, who have beaten the Sharks five straight times. Tyler Kennedy and Tomas Hertl scored 70 seconds apart early in the third to erase a two-goal deficit for the Sharks. Tommy Wingels got another equalizer late in the third, but San Jose still lost its third straight game. Marty Havlat also scored and Antti Niemi made 32 saves. Matt Moulson and Logan Couture each scored in the first round of the shootout, and then Miller stopped three straight shots before Hodgson beat Niemi for the winner. The third period was filled with excitement with the teams combining for five goals starting when Ennis scored Buffalos second road power-play goal of the season to make it 3-2. But the Sharks erased that lead in a flash. The first goal came when Joe Pavelski won a faceoff to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, whose shot deflected toward Kennedy, who knocked it in for his second goal of the season 3:19 into the period. Then just over a minute later, Hertl took a rebound of Scott Hannans shot and skated around the net for a wraparound goal that was his ninth of the season. The Sabres appeared on their way to a rare win when Tallinder scored midway through the third and then they had a two-man advantage later in the period. But Jamie McBain hit the post during the 5-on-3, and the Sharks tied it late in the period shortly after a penalty to Marcus Foligno ended. Wingels dove into the crease to knock in the loose puck to tie the game and excite the sellout crowd.dddddddddddd. What appeared to be a decided mismatch on paper between a Buffalo team that had one regulation win all season, and a San Jose team with just one regulation loss was anything but on ice. The Sabres overcame an early deficit and scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third. The first goal came off a San Jose mistake as Jason Demers and Kennedy had trouble clearing the puck out of the defensive zone, and Stafford capitalized, beating Niemi with a quick wrister to tie the game early in the second. Just seconds after Kennedy and Johan Larsson were sent off for fighting midway through the period, Zemgus Girgensons won an offensive zone faceoff from Andrew Desjardins. McCormick got the loose puck and beat Niemi with a wrist shot between his pads to give Buffalo the lead. Miller took over from there with stellar play on a pair of power plays late in the second. After Wingels hit the crossbar with a nifty shot from the side of the net, Miller got his pad on Justin Brauns rebound attempt to preserve the lead. The Sharks predictably scored first with good pressure from Coutures line paying off with a goal midway through the first period when Havlat backhanded a loose puck in front of the net off Miller and in for his first goal of the season. That ended Millers shutout streak against the Sharks at 139 minutes, 22 seconds and 88 straight saves. It also marked the 15th time in 17 games that the Sabres allowed the first goal. They have been outscored 21-2 in the opening period this season, while the Sharks have outscored opponents 20-8. NOTES: Tallinder has scored in consecutive games for the first time since January 2006. ... The Sabres had allowed the first goal in 15 of 17 games. ' ' '