SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- The San Jose Sharks showed some rare third-period life.

Marco Sturm's short-handed score completed San Jose's three-goal rally as the Sharks beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night.

The victory was the Sharks' first in 23 games (1-20-2) when trailing after two periods.

"Our record when behind after two periods isn't exactly scintillating," Sharks assistant coach Bob Berry said. "So to come back, especially after trailing 3-1 and having to score a couple of short-handed goals, really makes this an important win."

The Predators scored three times in only 3:09 of the second to take a 3-1 lead, but goals by Brad Stuart and Jeff Friesen tied it.

"I think we thought the game was over when we led 2-1 and sat back," Nashville forward Tom Fitzgerald said. "Maybe we should pretend all the time that we're down by two goals. That's when we seem to play our best."

Sturm drove from the blue line and had his shot from the right circle stopped. He got to the rebound and scored from point-blank range.

San Jose rookie goalie Evgeni Nabokov earned his first NHL victory -- facing only two shots in 35 minutes of play -- after he replaced injured starter Steve Shields.

"I was a little nervous when I first went in," the 24-year-old goalie said. "I told myself that it was an important game and that I couldn't give up a goal. Our defense really played well because Nashville only got two shots in the last period."

The Sharks opened the scoring at 15:44 of the first period when Stephane Matteau scored on a rebound.

Early in the second, Shields was hit on the right side of his head by a flying puck, and the game was stopped briefly. Shields stayed on and Nashville tied it at 1:28 when Sebastien Bordeleau scored on a 10-footer off a pass from Scott Walker.

Forty-four seconds later, Greg Berehowsky gave the Predators a 2-1 lead on an 18-foot shot from the right side.

Nashville's Bob Boughner got only his second goal, scoring on a short shot at 4:47 after a pass from Cliff Ronning.

Shields was then replaced by Nabokov.

San Jose cut it to 3-2 when Stuart scored a short-handed goal at 13:07. The Sharks then tied it on a power play with 46 seconds gone in the final period when Friesen scored his 22nd goal on a rebound.

"Giving up two short-handed goals in a game ... you just can't allow that to happen," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "When we had them down 3-1, that was the time to squeeze the life out of them."

The victory kept the Sharks tied with Colorado for the last Western Conference playoff spot, three points ahead of Calgary and four ahead of Anaheim.

The game was interrupted three times when sections of the protective glass around the ice were shattered.