Celebrini scores in shootout as Sharks beat Predators 3-2 after late Stamkos equalizer

How the game ended

The San Jose Sharks beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a shootout on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, with Macklin Celebrini scoring the only shootout goal, according to the NHL's official game data and ESPN. ^{[1] [2]}

The teams were tied 2-2 after regulation and a scoreless overtime. In the shootout, Nashville's Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg and San Jose's Ivar Stenberg were stopped. Celebrini then scored for the Sharks with a wrist shot, and Ross Colton failed to answer for Nashville, ending the game on the fifth attempt, per the NHL's shootout log. ^{[1] [2]}

Under NHL rules the shootout win counts as one goal in the final score. The Predators earn a point for the overtime-shootout loss. ^{[1] [2]}

Scoring

Mason Marchment put San Jose ahead 1-0 at 5:30 of the first period, assisted by Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg. The second period was scoreless. ^{[1] [2]}

Will Smith made it 2-0 at 4:28 of the third, with assists from Matt Kesselring and Ivan Chernyshov. Nashville answered on the power play at 9:05, when O'Reilly scored from passes by Jonathan Marchessault and Roman Josi. ^{[1] [2]}

With the Predators pressing in the final minute, Steven Stamkos scored at 19:59 of the third to make it 2-2. The NHL data lists the goal as unassisted. Neither team scored in the five-minute overtime. ^{[1] [2]}

Shots and goaltending

Nashville outshot San Jose 35-32 across the game, per the NHL box score. Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 33 of 35 shots faced. Predators goalie Juuse Saros made 30 saves on 32 shots, per the same box score. ^{[1] [2]}

Celebrini led all Sharks forwards with 23:39 of ice time, the box score shows, and took three shots in addition to his shootout goal. Smith and Marchment each scored once in regulation. ^{[1] [2]}

Records and what is next

ESPN lists San Jose at 4-3-0 after the win and Nashville at 2-2-3. ^[2]

San Jose is 2-1-0 on the road this season and Nashville is 1-2-1 at home, per ESPN. Both teams are early in the 2026-27 season, so the standings are a small sample. Each club's next fixture is listed on its official schedule. ^[2]