Sharks top Predators 4-1

SAN JOSE - The San Jose Sharks have their share of rivalries in the Pacific Division. Wednesday’s game at SAP Center demonstrated there’s really no love lost with the Nashville Predators, either.

The Sharks’ game against the Predators became testy after Marc-Edouard Vlasic was hit and knocked out of the game by Ryan Johansen in the third period. One fight and a handful of roughing penalties ensued before the Sharks finished off a 4-1 win.

Joonas Donskoi had a goal and an assist and Joe Pavelski scored a second period goal that gave Joe Thornton his 1,400th career NHL point.

Vlasic also scored in the second period, but was injured early in the third.

Vlasic was in his own zone trying to corral a loose puck in the corner to the left of goalie Sharks goalie Martin Jones when hit by Johansen, who caught Vlasic in the head. Johansen received a boarding penalty for the play and later fought Pavelski.

Vlasic stayed on the ice on all fours for several moments before he was assisted off. He had 15:55 of ice time up until the time he was injured.

Late in the first period, Donskoi won a battle for the puck in the corner to the right of the Predators’ net and made a short pass to Mikkel Boedker, who skated back toward the blue line before he found Tim Heed on the other side of the ice.

Heed skated toward Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne and found Donskoi crashing the net, as he tapped it in for his fourth goal of the season. Donskoi needed 32 games to score four goals last season, but now has three in his past five games.

The Sharks’ homestand continues Saturday against Anaheim, the other team to make the Western Conference final earlier this year.

The Sharks then play Tampa Bay next Wednesday and close it out against Vancouver on Nov. 11.