Sharks’ dominance means nothing in Game 7
Sharks’ dominance means nothing in Game 7
The Sharks have received strong performances from all of their top players, a vast departure from recent postseasons.
The Predators will play their 14th game in 28 nights, and already have survived three elimination games.
“This is a tough trail,” Sharks first-year head coach Peter DeBoer said.
Look around the league: the elimination games going around, the number of Game 7s and how close, how tight the games are.
The Predators-Sharks winner advances o the conference finals against either the Stars or Blues, who played their Game 7 Wednesday night in Dallas.
Don’t blame the Sharks if they feel somewhat snake bit.
The only time Nashville had the lead in either of the past two games was when it scored in overtime of Monday’s Game 6 to even the series.
The Sharks have the most potent power play of the teams still playing, having converted 11 of 39 chances (28.2 percent).
The Sharks have two of the league’s playoff top scorers in defenseman Brent Burns (15 points) and forward Logan Couture (14).
San Jose’s postseason goaltending — manned from start to finish by Martin Jones — ranks seventh with a 2.34 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
Nashville sits five spots back at No. 12 with a 2.74 GAA and .901 save percentage as Pekka Rinne has appeared for all but four minutes of his team’s 13 games.
If Game 7 experience matters, that, too, leans in the Sharks’ favor.
The rest of the roster has done so once: the 2-1, first-round defeat of Anaheim.
Louis game in the other Western semifinal, home teams were 95-68 (.583) all-time.
The team that scored first had won 121 of 163 (.742) and 40 Game 7s had gone overtime (20 wins for each the home team and visitors).