Antti Niemi takes some shots early, giving up a rebound or two, a maddening inconsistency if there ever was one. A little over two minutes in and Joe Pavelski puts the puck to net with assistance from Kyle Wellwood, but they don't sink it - a good opportunity nonetheless. The commentary crew goes over second chances, and how the Sharks need to create and eliminate them, which could essentially describe this entire game. Niemi needs to stay away from those rebounds.
Four minutes in and the Predators are out-shooting the Sharks 4-1. At 4:30 in, the Sharks are on an early penalty kill when Jason Demers is called for holding on David Legwand. Niemi covers a shot from Shea Webber early and the Sharks do a good job of preventing chances for the duration of the penalty kill and the Sharks get back to full strength.
Douglas Murray lays a big hit on Patric Hornqvist and everybody simultaneously cringes while still managing to cheer. The Sharks move into the Predator's zone and they have a good chance with Ryane Clowe dishing to Dany Heatley, but the shot is blocked - but it's Heater again, and he beats Pekka Rinne over the top as the entire Sharks team swarms.
Wait, the referee's are looking at things to see if there was a kicking motion, and there was not but it does hit Ryane Clowe's skate and he gets the goal off of assists from Jason Demers and Dany Heatley. That's one goal in three shots for the Sharks.
Torrey Mitchell circles behind the Predator's net and dishes the puck up the center for a teammate who isn't there, so technically he completes a pass across the ice to Antti Niemi.