Nashville Predators

The Predators are hoping that they can make up some points in New York City, their home on the road for three of their last four games before the Olympics break.

They played their final home game before the Olympic break Saturday night against San Jose.

The Predators are still trying to climb out of the hole made when they lost five straight games. They have made a living winning one-goal games, but that margin isn't spelling victories as often.

"We were finding ways to win one-goal games," coach Barry Trotz said. "Now we are finding ways to lose them."

The competition is not going to be any easier for the Predators the rest of the way as they scrap to stay in contention for one of the eight playoff spots in the Western Conference.

"We are playing good teams that are not only in the top of the conference, but in the top of the league," Trotz said. "We are playing them straight up, but we aren't getting all of the points we need."

SHARKS 4, PREDATORS 3: Three times the Predators gave up one-goal leads.

Dany Heatley twice scored on the power play for San Jose, including what proved to be the game-winning goal in the third period. Coach Barry Trotz was highly critical of defenseman Dan Hamhuis of his boarding penalty that set up the Heatley goal.

"It was a poor penalty," Trotz said. "It was tie game with eight minutes to go. We had to be disciplined. It was a poor play on his part and we did a poor job on the penalty kill."

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.P. Dumont scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season. He is the ninth Predators player to reach 10 goals or more this season. Only Washington with 10 players and Chicago and Dallas with nine each have more.

Nashville also has nine players who have reached at least 25 points. Washington and Chicago each have 10.

The Predators have seven players with 30 or more points. Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles each have eight.

• The Predators are 3-2-1 on home ice against the Pacific Division and 11-3-2 since the start of last season against Pacific teams.

  This was the third game in a row between the Predators and San Jose that was decided by a 4-3 score. Eight of the last nine games between the two teams have been decided by one goal.

• The Predators outshot San Jose 38-29. The Predators have outshot the opposition 312-to-221 in the last nine games. They have had 30-or-more shots on net in all but one of those games.

Quote To Note:

"Some players have six-inch sweet spots where they can really nail the puck. His sweet spot is about six feet. He can get the shot on net from anywhere. He is very accurate."

—Predators coach Barry Trotz on why it is so difficult to stop San Jose's Dany Heatley.

Goaltenders:

Pekka Rinne, Dan Ellis.

Defensemen:

Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Dan Hamhuis, Alexander Sulzer, Francis Boullion, Kevin Klein.

First Line:

Steve Sullivan, Jason Arnott, Patric Hornqvist

Second Line:

Martin Erat, David Legwand, Joel Ward.

Third Line:

Jordan Tootoo, Cal O'Reilly. J.P. Dumont.

Fourth Line:

Ryan Jones, Jerred Smithson, Wade Belak.

Player Notes:

• RW J.P. Dumont scored twice, his first goals since Jan. 12. Coach Barry Trotz had been critical of Dumont's play in the media. Dumont refused to address the topic after the San Jose game.

  "I thought J.P. showed a lot of determination," coach Barry Trotz said. "When he is skating and moving his feet he gets open and makes plays. He has great vision. He understands how to make things happen offensively. And when you are playing good defense you have the puck more as well."

• RW Joel Ward scored a goal and has four points (three goals, one assist) in his last four games. The Predators lost for the first time this season when Ward has scored a point. They were 19-0-0 before the streak ended.

• C Cal O'Reilly was credited with three assists. Both his assist total and points total were season highs.

  "It's about two points for the team," O'Reilly said. "I would trade those three assists for two points any night. It's about winning, especially right now."

Medical Watch:

• D Cody Franson will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a broken rib sustained in the first period of the Feb. 2 game with Phoenix.

• C Marcel Goc skated Saturday morning, but decided he would not be able to play. Coach Barry Trotz expects him to be ready for Tuesday's game against the Islanders in New York.

  He did manage to dress for a pre-game ceremony honoring the Predators' representatives in the Olympics.

  "It's a little bit of a re-injury," Trotz said.