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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Scott Thornton has become a valuable
pickup for the San Jose Sharks.
|  | | Nashville's Scott Hartnell tries to shake off Jeff Friesen. |
Thornton, signed as a free agent on July 1, started a three-goal
flurry in the second period of his 500th NHL game and the Sharks
ended the Nashville Predators' unbeaten string at four games with a
5-3 victory Saturday night.
"What we got Scotty for is a dimension that after Owen (Nolan),
we didn't really have a power-corner guy and especially a guy with
some size," Sharks coach Darryl Sutter said. "Those guys are hard
to find in the league, and they're valuable players."
Thornton divided last season between Montreal and Dallas.
San Jose has won four of its last five, while the Predators lost
for the first time in five games (3-1-1).
Thornton's wraparound goal 1:09 into the second period beat
Nashville goalie Mike Dunham and tied the game 2-2. It marked the
first time in five starts that Dunham allowed more than one goal.
"That was the turning point in the game," San Jose defenseman
Brad Stuart said of the three-goal spurt. "We just put the puck on
the net and went to the net."
Mark Smith put the Sharks ahead 3-2 with his first NHL point on
a deflection, and Tony Granato made it 4-2 on a rebound 8:52 into
the second.
"We have been getting by," Dunham said. "Tonight it sort of
caught up to us."
Patric Kjellberg's rebound goal late in the second cut the lead
to 4-3. Sharks captain Owen Nolan's first goal of the season made
it 5-3 early in the third period.
"It brings us back to reality a little bit," Nashville coach
Barry Trotz said of the loss.
Nolan, who made his season debut Friday, played 16:55.
"Obviously it's great having him back," Stuart said. "He's
our captain. It's a big boost for everybody."
The teams exchanged goals in a 1:07 span of the first. Shawn
Heins put the Sharks up 1-0 on a screened slap shot at 5:43.
Nashville's Cliff Ronning tied it with a power-play goal from the
high slot that sailed over Evgeni Nabokov's glove.
Kimmo Timonen put the Predators up 2-1 at 8:54 of the period,
banging Vitali Yachmenev's pass in at the left post.
Nabokov (3-1-0) got his career-best third win, while Dunham
(3-1-1) lost for the first time this season.
Game notes
Heins' first career goal was the only goal the Predators
have allowed in the first period this season. Nashville has
outscored its opponents 7-1 in the opening periods of its seven
games. ... Sharks center Mike Ricci sat out the game as a
precaution after taking a knee to the helmet in Friday's game
against Minnesota. That ended Ricci's streak of consecutive games
played at 234, second-longest among current NHL players to
Chicago's Tony Amonte (253). ... San Jose defenseman Bryan
Marchment received 19 minutes of penalties in the first period, on a
double minor, a fighting major, and a 10-minute misconduct.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
San Jose Clubhouse
Nashville Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 2
Calgary 1
Montreal 5
Carolina 2
Atlanta 6
Ottawa 6
Anaheim 4
Philadelphia 3
NY Islanders 4
Washington 4
Detroit 5
Buffalo 4
New Jersey 7
Tampa Bay 2
Pittsburgh 5
Columbus 2
Dallas 4
Los Angeles 3
San Jose 5
Nashville 3
St. Louis 1
Chicago 0
Phoenix 3
Vancouver 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kimmo Timonen knocks in the Predator goal.
avi: 524 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
San Jose's Owen Nolan scores off a Vincent Damphousse shot in the third period.
avi: 817 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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