Predators Erupt for 5 First-Period Goals, Top Sharks

Nashville scores 5 unanswered goals in the opening frame to cruise to 6-3 victory over San Jose.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 7:00am

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The Nashville Predators scored five goals in the first period and went on to defeat the visiting San Jose Sharks 6-3 on Tuesday night. Filip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista, and Brady Skjei all found the back of the net in the opening frame to give the Predators a commanding lead. Steven Stamkos added a power-play goal in the second period, while Will Smith scored twice for the Sharks.

Why it matters

The win extends the Predators' winning streak to five games, solidifying their position in the playoff race. For the struggling Sharks, the loss marks their fifth consecutive defeat as they continue to search for answers.

The details

The Predators' offensive outburst in the first period proved to be the difference, with Forsberg, Wood, Josi, Evangelista, and Skjei all finding the back of the net. Juuse Saros made 27 saves in the win, while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 13 shots for the Sharks. San Jose's Adam Gaudette and Will Smith scored the team's three goals.

  • The Predators scored 5 goals in the first period.
  • Stamkos' power-play goal came with 7:22 left in the second period.
  • Smith's second goal came 1:40 into the third period.

The players

Filip Forsberg

A forward for the Nashville Predators who had a goal and two assists in the game.

Brady Skjei

A defenseman for the Nashville Predators who scored a goal and added an assist.

Will Smith

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who scored two goals in the game.

Juuse Saros

The goaltender for the Nashville Predators who made 27 saves in the win.

Alex Nedeljkovic

The goaltender for the San Jose Sharks who stopped 13 shots in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been firing on all cylinders in that first period. It's always nice to get out to a big lead, but we can't let up. We need to keep pushing for a full 60 minutes.”

— Filip Forsberg

“We dug ourselves too big of a hole in the first. That's a tough team to come back against when they get rolling like that. We'll need to regroup and find a way to start games better.”

— Will Smith, Forward

What’s next

The Predators will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. The Sharks will aim to snap their five-game skid as they visit the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

The takeaway

Nashville's dominant first period proved to be the difference, as their offensive firepower overwhelmed the struggling Sharks. The win keeps the Predators firmly in the playoff picture, while San Jose continues to search for answers during their current losing streak.