Category: Game News

Pre- and/or post-game news from wire reports, teams, news services

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 7 160512

Game 6 loss forces game 7 at SAP Center.

Game 6 postgame news/links

Giving up a few bad goals, and the Sharks could not hold onto the leads they had during game 6.  In OT, Preds won.  Sharks also lost Nieto to injury.

Nieto was not among the players that practiced on Wednesday.  Wingels and Haley participated on the fourth line, so one (perhaps Wingels) should replace Nieto in Thursday’s game 7 lineup.  UPDATE:  Wingels in for Nieto; Karlsson promoted to 3rd line.

Sharks are 5-4 in game 7s.  Predators will play in their second (all time) game 7 (after winning their first in previous series).

Sharks hope that home ice advantage is theirs tonight.

Sharks will win if they execute their game plan: deadly on the man advantage, speed kills (offense), strong defense.  They’ll need to neutralize the Predators in all three zones, especially the defensive zone.

(Regardless of the results of this game, the WCF will begin on Sunday in St Louis.)

And don’t forget to vote for Pavelski!

Predator-centric articles are left to the reader to discover.

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 6 160409 postgame

Sharks had all the leads in regulation, but the Preds scored in OT to win the game.  Game 7 will be Thursday.

Pregame news/links

Tierney opened the scoring with TWO goals less than two minutes apart, in the first period, which was answered by the Predators.  Nieto injured running into net and did not return in the second period; his status is unknown after the game.

The Preds tied it up in the second.

Sharks went ahead again in the third, on their only power play of the game, but the Preds tied it up.

In overtime, the Preds scored 2:08 in.

Start time for game 7 will be based on whether the Pittsburgh-Washington series goes to 7 games.  (So if Pittsburgh wins game 6 on Tuesday, the Sharks-Predators game will start at 6pm.  If Washington forces a game 7, the Sharks-Predators game will start at 7pm.)

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 6 160409

Sharks are looking for their fourth road win of the post season, and the first by any team in this series, as they hope to send the Predators on their summer vacation with a win in game 6.

Game 5 postgame news/links

Both teams flew to Tennessee on Sunday.  Sharks are using their experience and  knowledge as the NHL’s most traveled team regarding rest and jet lag to be ready to play.  The changes in game 5’s lineup improved how the team performed, so expect more of the same for Monday (Marleau to 2nd line wing; Tierney promoted to 3rd line center, Ward to 3rd line; Zubrus to 4th line, Wingels out).

The Predators (and their fans) will be desperate for a win.  Lose and the season is over; win and they get another trip to San Jose.  The Predators have never made it past the second round.

(Perhaps more after morning skate)

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 5 160507 postgame

Sharks made one lineup change, and dominated the Preds, even chasing Rinne from the net (way in the end of the 3rd, after the Sharks were up by 3).  Sharks lead series 3-2.

Pregame news/links

The big question this game answered was which team would be able to overcome the triple overtime game and take the series lead.  The Sharks answered that definitively.

Pavelski lead the way with two goals; Marleau opened the scoring, Couture and Karlsson had the other two goals.  Sharks were 1-3 on the power play; Predators 0-3.  Jones made 24 saves, only giving up goal to Fisher in first.

Inexplicably, Rinne was pulled late in the third (on a Sharks power play) and Hutton (former Sharks prospect) was in net for the final goal against by Karlsson.

On Sunday, both teams will fly to Nashville. Game 6 is Monday.  Sharks hope to be the first road team to win in this series, to advance to the conference finals.

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 5 160507

Well, if the Sharks want the league’s attention on their series, they got it with the longest OT (so far) of this year’s playoffs.  And THE talking point Friday around water coolers and radio mikes around the continent is on Pavelski’s disallowed goal.

Game 4 postgame news/links

On Friday, both teams traveled to San Jose in advance of game 5.

(Should be some morning skate stories that come up; hope to add them.)

Pregame news links

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 4 160505 postgame

Predators and Sharks traded goals in regulation, heading to OT tied 3-3.  Pavelski’s goal in first OT disallowed.  Preds score in 3OT.  Series tied 2-2.  Back to San Jose for game 5 Saturday.

Pregame news/links

This was the second longest game in Sharks history, the longest in Predators history.

Sharks went 1/5 on man advantage.  Sharks need to be better on Saturday night.  They also started out with mediocre faceoffs, but improved as the night went on (regardless of the one linesman who seemed to whistle every faceoff dead if the Sharks won).

Teams will fly back to San Jose for game 5.

Postgame links

And the morning after….

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 4 160505

A loss is not fun, but that’s only their second loss of the post season, and their first regulation loss.

Game 3 postgame links

Hard to sweep in the playoffs.  And that just means that Shark fans get to see their boys on Saturday for game 5.

Sharks need to get and keep their speed up to compete.  And stay out of the penalty box.  And continue to keep up the pressure.

Sharks are hosting Coolest Game watch party @ Stanley’s Thursday night for game 4.

Pregame links

Afternoon links

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 3 160503 postgame

A loss by one goal or a bunch is still a loss.  (Sharks lost game 3 in the last series too.)

Game 3 pregame news/links

Almost made it home before the puck dropped, but got redirected, out and about until the middle of the second, and stayed in the car to listen to the rest of the game.  Not sure I want to watch it now.

Postgame links

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 3 160503

“On the road again.
Just can’t wait to be on the road again!”

The Sharks head to Nashville for games 3 and 4.

Game 2 postgame news/notes

Sharks are leading the series 2-0.  Nashville will be pushing hard as they don’t want to go down 3-0 (and face elimination in game 4).

Pregame news/links

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 2 160501 postgame

And it looks like the Sharks continue to write their own/new story with home ice not being the issue it “seemed to be” during the regular season, as they are up 2-0 in this series.  (And they are the only team left playing that hasn’t had a regulation loss.)

Game 2 pregame news/links

In past seasons, the Sharks might have a late lead but be unable to hang onto it.  This spring, the Sharks are putting their foot on the throat with more force and confidence, scoring extra empty netters and late goals, regardless of the score.  This came in handy Sunday night when the ENG was the GWG after the late extra attacker goal by Nashville.

Also a huge sigh of relief after Vlasic was hit in the visor by a Weber slap shot (and suffered no injury!).

Black aces get tapped for playoffs.  (That’s goalie Aaron Dell; defenseman Mirco Mueller; forwards Ryan Carpenter, Nikolay Goldobin, and Barclay Goodrow.)

Postgame news/links