TOMAS HERTL

PRAGUE — (AP) — Nino Niederreiter scored his debut goal for the Nashville Predators, who beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 in the Czech capital on Friday night in the NHL regular-season opener. The Predators outshot the Sharks 32-31 while Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 30 shots. Niederreiter was a key offseason addition for the Predators, who are hoping to continue a run of eight straight playoff berths. The Predators were set to open the 2020-21 season in Prague against the Boston Bruins before the pandemic scrapped those plans. The Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 4, 2019 were the last NHL teams to play in Prague.

Nino Niederreiter scored his debut goal for the Nashville Predators, who beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 in Prague in the NHL regular-season opener.

PRAGUE — (AP) — After the San Jose Sharks missed the NHL playoffs for a third straight season, Tomas Hertl is determined to turn things around. The 28-year-old Czech center, who was drafted by the Sharks 10 years ago, recently signed a $65.1 million, eight-year contract to remain in San Jose. “I want to get San Jose back to the playoffs and I’m ready to do all I can to make it happen,” Hertl said. New San Jose coach David Quinn hoped the circumstances provide a boost for his team. The Predators were set to open the 2020-21 season in Prague against the Boston Bruins before the pandemic scrapped the NHL’s plans.

After the San Jose Sharks missed the NHL playoffs for a third straight season for the first time in franchise history, Tomas Hertl is determined to turn things around.

Kings Sharks Hockey San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) reacts after being called for a penalty during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Sharks used a huge first period — including Meier's hat trick — to beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 on Monday. Tomas Hertl had four assists for the Sharks, who had scored just one goal combined over their past two games. James Reimer, making his first start in net since Jan. 4 for San Jose due to a lower-body injury, had 39 saves. Anze Kopitar and Anderson scored for Los Angeles, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Timo Meier set a San Jose franchise record with five goals on Monday, and the Sharks used a huge first period to beat the Los Angeles Kings 6-2.

Coyotes Sharks Hockey San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl celebrates with Jayden Halbgewachs (89), Mario Ferraro (38), Noah Gregor (73) and Brent Burns (88) after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. San Jose won 8-7 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) (Tony Avelar)The NHL is following other leagues and the CDC by cutting COVID-19 isolation times to five days under certain conditions and where it is allowed by local laws. The change only applies in the United States because of stricter pandemic regulations in Canada. Players, coaches and staff who test positive for the coronavirus can return after five days with a negative PCR test or two negative rapid test results taken more than two hours apart. The NBA and NFL previously reduced to five days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance.

The NHL is following other leagues and the CDC by cutting COVID-19 isolation times to five days under certain conditions and where it is allowed by local laws.

Wild Sharks Hockey Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) is congratulated by Kevin Fiala (22) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) (Tony Avelar)SAN JOSE, Calif. — (AP) — Jordan Greenway scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Fiala put the Wild up 1-0 early, scoring his fourth goal of the season with 13:38 left in the first period. Dahlen got San Jose on the board with 16:31 remaining in the third period, deflecting Erik Karlsson’s point shot past Talbot. Hertl scored his team-leading 13th goal on the power play with 6:34 left to bring the Sharks within one. The Sharks reassigned G Alexei Melnichuk to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

Jordan Greenway scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 for their eighth straight win.

Jonathan Marchessault scored twice and the Vegas Golden Knights became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff berth, beating the San Jose Sharks 5-2 for their eighth straight victory.

(Sarah Stier/Pool Photo via AP)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The list of players in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol dropped to a season-low three, despite the additions of Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Nashville’s Ryan Johansen. San Jose’s Tomas Hertl is the only other player on the list after entering his seventh day in the protocol. ___Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will miss Tuesday night’s game against Philadelphia after being placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. The news comes a day after the NHL had a season-low four players in the COVID-19 protocol. AdTuesday night’s game will be the first game with fans in attendance at PPG Paints Arena since last March.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, center, celebrates with teammates Patrick Marleau (12) and Mario Ferraro (38) after scoring a goal against Minnesota Wild during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The San Jose Sharks have returned to practice and are set to play the St. Louis Blues as scheduled on Saturday night after having one game postponed because a player tested positive for the coronavirus. Tomas Hertl was placed on the COVID-19 list on Wednesday, leading to the team canceling practice that day and postponing Thursday’s game against Vegas. With no other players or staff testing positive since then, the Sharks were allowed to return to practice Friday and will host St. Louis the next night. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference will expand use of KINEXON SafeTag contact tracing devices by equipping players, coaches and Tier 1 personnel for its upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) reacts after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)SAN JOSE, Calif. – Jonathan Marchessault scored the first of Vegas’ three power-play goals and the Golden Knights spoiled San Jose’s first home game in nearly a year with a 3-1 victory over the Sharks on Saturday. San Jose was given the unbalanced schedule because of local restrictions that banned contact sports and practices, forcing the Sharks to hold training camp in Arizona. He was hired last January by Vegas but hadn’t faced San Jose until Saturday. SIMEK SIDELINEDSharks D Radim Simek left in the second period after taking two hard hits from Marchessault.

(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King, File)The Minnesota Wild traded goalie Devan Dubnyk and forward Ryan Donato to the San Jose Sharks in two separate deals Monday, continuing their makeover under general manager Bill Guerin. The selection the Sharks sent to the Wild was originally Pittsburgh's, first dealt to San Jose on Feb. 24 for forward Patrick Marleau. The Wild now own two 2021 picks from the Penguins, who traded next year's first-rounder to Minnesota for forward Jason Zucker. Donato, who is the son of former Bruins stalwart Ted Donato, has 29 goals and 28 assists in 130 career NHL games. The 26-year-old Soucy had seven goals, seven assists and a team-leading plus-16 rating in 55 games in his first full NHL season.