NASHVILLE (Interstat) — Macklin Celebrini scored the only goal of the shootout and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped the final two attempts, lifting the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. The NHL game was completed in a shootout after the teams finished regulation and overtime tied. Nedeljkovic made 32 saves on 34 shots and also denied Filip Forsberg and Ross Colton in the shootout. Mason Marchment and Will Smith scored in regulation for San Jose. The Sharks improved to 4-3. The Predators fell to 2-5. Attendance was 17,181.

San Jose opened the scoring at 5:30 of the first period when Marchment beat Juuse Saros with a wrist shot. Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg assisted on the play. Nashville pressured early, with Roman Josi putting wrist shots on Nedeljkovic in the opening minute. Steven Stamkos hit the right post 31 seconds into the game. Nedeljkovic also turned aside Josi again and later stopped Ryan O’Reilly and Ross Colton. The Predators received a hooking penalty on Nicolas Hague, but San Jose could not add to its lead. Hague and Zack Ostapchuk later fought, and Ostapchuk was given a double minor for high-sticking. The Sharks led 1-0 after the first period.

The second period was scoreless, but both teams generated chances. Will Smith had a tip-in saved by Saros early in the period. Igor Chernyshov sent a wrist shot wide and later was called for interference against Colton. Collin Graf hit the left post for San Jose. Kiefer Sherwood had a slap shot saved by Saros. Barclay Goodrow also tested Saros. Nashville’s Reid Schaefer was called for hooking and later high-sticking. Jack Drury won several faceoffs for the Predators. Adam Edstrom delivered hits on Chernyshov and Michael Kesselring. Nedeljkovic stopped Matthew Wood and Nicolas Hague to keep Nashville off the board. San Jose’s Zack Ostapchuk delivered two hits on Wood, and Barclay Goodrow hit Hague.

San Jose doubled its lead in the third period when Smith scored from Michael Kesselring and Chernyshov. Nashville answered with Ryan O’Reilly’s backhand goal, assisted by Jonathan Marchessault and Josi. The Predators kept pressing, and Stamkos tied the game late in regulation with a wrist shot from Forsberg. Saros made saves on Goodrow and Toffoli, while Nedeljkovic stopped Forsberg and Marchessault. San Jose’s Sam Dickinson was called for tripping. The teams went to overtime tied 2-2.

In overtime, Nashville had the best chances. O’Reilly hit the crossbar. Stamkos had a backhand saved by Nedeljkovic. Josi put wrist shots and a slap shot on net, all stopped by Nedeljkovic. Alexander Kerfoot hit the right post. San Jose countered with chances from Celebrini, Smith and Luca Cagnoni, but Saros turned them away. Ivar Stenberg had a wrist shot saved and later a failed bank attempt. Celebrini also sent a wrist shot wide, and Ivar Stenberg had a wrist shot saved by Saros. Neither team scored in the extra period, sending the game to a shootout.

In the shootout, O’Reilly hit the crossbar. Saros stopped Stenberg. Nedeljkovic denied Forsberg. Celebrini then scored the only goal of the tiebreaker with a wrist shot. Nedeljkovic sealed the win by stopping Colton. Celebrini’s conversion proved decisive.

Penalties were frequent. Hague was called for hooking, Ostapchuk received a double minor for high-sticking, Hague and Ostapchuk fought, Chernyshov was called for interference, Schaefer was called for hooking and high-sticking, and Dickinson was called for tripping.

Nedeljkovic was the top star for San Jose. The 6-foot, 203-pound goaltender finished with 32 saves on 34 shots and won both of his starts this season. Ryan O’Reilly, 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, had one goal, four shots and one hit for Nashville. Will Smith, 6-foot and 181 pounds, had one goal and five shots. Steven Stamkos, 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, had one goal and two shots. Mason Marchment, 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds, had one goal, two shots and one hit. Filip Forsberg, 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, had one assist, six shots and one hit. Roman Josi, 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, had one assist and eight shots. Tyler Toffoli, 6-foot and 203 pounds, had one assist and three shots. Igor Chernyshov, 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, had one assist and two penalty minutes. Michael Kesselring, 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, had one assist, one shot and one hit.

San Jose snapped a two-game losing streak. The Sharks improved to 4-3. Nashville fell to 2-5. San Jose’s recent results include overtime wins over Florida and Los Angeles, an overtime win at St. Louis, a loss at Dallas, and home losses to Edmonton and Boston. Nashville beat Dallas and won at Montreal, but lost to Minnesota and Vegas, dropped a shootout at Ottawa, and lost in overtime at Toronto. Nedeljkovic’s previous start was a 3-2 win at St. Louis, where he made 24 saves on 26 shots. He has won both of his starts this season.

San Jose next visits Detroit, followed by games at Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Boston. The Sharks then return home for games against Buffalo, Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary, and a road game at Los Angeles. Nashville next hosts St. Louis before road games at Boston and Pittsburgh. The Predators then host Colorado, the New York Islanders, Washington, Tampa Bay and Carolina before a road game at Colorado and a home game against St. Louis.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Nashville 3, San Jose 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Nashville a 60.6 percent probability to win. Nashville was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The over/under line was 6.5, and the game produced a total of 5.