Predators 5, Sharks 1: Craig Smith registered his ninth career two-goal performance - and third this season - while captain Shea Weber recorded a tally and an assist as league-leading Nashville completed a perfect four-game homestand.

Paul Gaustad and James Neal also scored for the Predators, who extended their overall winning streak to six games and their run at home to five. Mike Ribeiro notched a pair of assists and Pekka Rinne made 42 saves en route to his league-high 34th victory as Nashville improved to an NHL-best 25-3-1 at home.

Defenseman Matt Irwin netted the lone goal for the Sharks, who suffered their fifth defeat in six games. Alex Stalock turned aside 32 shots as San Jose lost its fifth straight visit to Nashville.

San Jose struck first as Irwin got ahead of the defense before receiving a pass from Melker Karlsson and beating Rinne on a short breakaway 5:26 into the contest. The Predators took charge from there, evening things on Weber's blast from the right point with 6:18 left in the first period and moving ahead when Smith batted the rebound of defenseman Mattias Ekholm's blue-line shot past Stalock from the doorstep 2:20 later.

Smith banged in a loose puck in front during a power play 53 seconds into the middle session to make it 3-1 and Gaustad added to the lead 50 seconds later by converting Gabriel Bourque's pass from the bottom of the slot. Neal continued the onslaught with 9 1/2 minutes remaining in the period, beating Stalock from the left faceoff circle for his 20th goal of the season.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rinne, who is 15-1-1 in his last 17 outings, has allowed one goal in each of his last three contests while Neal has reached the 20-goal plateau in each of his seven NHL seasons. ... Gaustad's tally ended his 46-game drought. ... Nashville C Matt Cullen's interference minor in the first period gave him 500 career penalty minutes. ... Predators C Mike Santorelli and D Cody Franson, who were acquired from Toronto on Sunday, were not in the lineup. ... Sharks C Logan Couture had his six-game point streak come to an end. ... San Jose has been held to fewer than three goals in each of its last 10 meetings with Nashville.