With wild card in sight, Sharks eye crucial contest vs. Predators

The San Jose Sharks are preparing for their biggest game of the season as they get set to host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

San Jose (36-31-7, 79 points) holds the tiebreaker over Nashville (35-31-9, 79 points) as the two battle for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The Sharks, who extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, also have a game in hand on the Predators.

"This time of the year, you have to play with a high level of desperation," San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "At times, I thought we did a good job of that (on Thursday). At times, we got a little bit loose.

"You've got to get the two points, we'll learn from it, we'll move on. We'll have a good meeting on Saturday morning and get ready for arguably the biggest game of the year."

Zack Ostapchuk and William Eklund each had a goal and an assist on Thursday for San Jose, which has won the first three contests of a six-game homestand.

Collin Graf and Adam Gaudette also tallied, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 18 saves for the Sharks, who have points in five straight games (4-0-1).

"We need guys to contribute in a lot of different areas," Warsofsky said of Thursday's depth scoring. "... The more guys we got going, the more guys contributing, is going to help our group in the long term."

Saturday will mark the second of three meetings this season between the two clubs and the first of two meetings in 10 days. Nashville doubled up San Jose 6-3 on March 24, and the teams will conclude the season series on April 13 in Nashville.

The Predators enter Saturday's contest following a dramatic 5-4 shootout win over the Kings in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Nashville squandered a 3-0 lead and needed eight rounds to pick up a key shootout win over the Kings, who trail them in the wild-card race.

Jonathan Marchessault, Filip Forsberg, Zachary L'Heureux and Steven Stamkos scored in regulation for the Predators, and Luke Evangelista recorded the lone shootout goal.

"At this time of the year, it's about getting points, and we gained a point on a team that we are chasing, so we'll certainly take it," Stamkos said.

Juuse Saros made 29 saves for the Predators, who snapped a three-game skid and improved to 15-16-6 on the road this season.

"It certainly has an elevated feel," Stamkos said of the wild-card race. "I mean, I don't know if really anything can replicate a playoff game, but it's as close as you're going to get for regular season in terms of two teams that are playing for their playoff lives."

Following Saturday's contest in San Jose, the Predators will return to Los Angeles as part of a five-game trip.

"We knew this was our season on the line here on this road trip, so got the win and great start," Stamkos said.