NHL: San Jose 8, Nashville 5

San Jose trailed 4-2 heading into the final period, but Pavelski gave the Sharks a 5-4 lead with a wrist shot 11:16 into the stanza.

J.P. Dumont briefly got the game tied, but Pavelski scored again with 5:20 remaining to give the Sharks the lead for good. Patrick Marleau boosted the advantage to two with his 40th goal of the season and Jay Leach scored into an empty net with 26 seconds left.

San Jose moved two points in front of idle Chicago for the best record in the Western Conference.

Dan Ellis was removed in the third period after giving up six goals on 23 shots. Pekka Rinne surrendered a goal on one of the two shots he faced.

Evgeni Nabokov gave up all five Nashville goals on 45 shots.

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