It had to end eventually.
The San Jose Sharks had their seven-game winning streak to begin the lockout-shortened regular season snapped in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators.
For the Sharks, it was their third game in a row decided by the breakaway contest. Meanwhile, the Predators have gone to a shootout five times in their first eight games.
Craig Smith, Nashville’s second shooter, scored the only goal in the shootout. Predators goalie Pekka Rinne stopped Michal Handzus, Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski.
The Predators’ Sergei Kostitsyn and Sharks’ Martin Havlat traded third period goals to send the game to overtime.