San Jose Sharks Take On Nashville Predators In Trap Game: Game Preview
By Eric He
If the San Jose Sharks want to find out how seriously they should take the Nashville Predators, all they have to do is ask the Anaheim Ducks. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
If the San Jose Sharks want to find out how seriously they should take the Nashville Predators, all they have to do is ask the Anaheim Ducks.
The Predators, on the brink of elimination from playoff contention, are playing desperate, and it showed in their stunning 5-2 victory over the Pacific Division-leading Ducks 5-2 on Friday night. The Ducks’ loss kept them at 108 points, one ahead of the Sharks, but the Ducks have a game in hand on San Jose.
Meanwhile, the Sharks have been guilty of going into cruise-control the past few games after already clinching a playoff spot. They did defeat the Kings 2-1 on Thursday in a potential playoff preview, and they’ll need to play with the same kind of intensity to close out the season strong.
Tale of the Tape
Sharks:
- Goals for per game: 2.94 (7th)
- Goals against per game: 2.33 (4th)
- Shots per game: 34.8 (1st)
- Shots against per game: 27.7 (6th)
- Penalty minutes: 719 (5th)
- Power play percentage: 17.6% (19th)
- Penalty kill percentage: 84.4% (7th)
Predators:
- Goals for per game: 2.51 (22nd)
- Goals against per game: 2.90 (T-24th)
- Shots per game: 29.1 (23rd)
- Shots against per game: 28.9 (11th)
- Penalty minutes: 770 (T-8th)
- Power play percentage: 18.9% (11th)
- Penalty kill percentage: 79.6% (25th)
Top Performers
Sharks: Joe Pavelski (39 G, 37 A), Joe Thornton (11 G, 63 A), Patrick Marleau (32 G, 35 A)
Predators: Shea Weber (21 G, 30 A), Patrick Hornqvist (18 G, 28 A), Mike Fisher (20 G, 25 A)
Injury Report
Sharks: Tomas Hertl (knee), Adam Burish (hand) and Raffi Torres (knee) are out.
Predators: Paul Gaustad (upper body) and Patrick Eaves (lower body) are day-to-day.
SAN JOSE (49-20-9)
Forwards
Joe Pavelski – Joe Thornton – Brent Burns
Patrick Marleau – Logan Couture – Tommy Wingels
Matt Nieto – James Sheppard – Tyler Kennedy
Marty Havlat – Andrew Desjardins – Mike Brown
Defensemen
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Jason Demers
Scott Hannan – Dan Boyle
Brad Stuart – Justin Braun
Goalies
NASHVILLE (34-32-11)
Forwards
Matt Cullen – Mike Fisher – Patric Hornqvist
Gabriel Bourque – Calle Jarnkrok – Craig Smith
Mark Van Gulder – Colin Wilson – Viktor Stalberg
Rich Clune – Colton Sissons – Eric Nystrom
Defensemen
Roman Josi – Shea Weber
Michael Del Zotto – Victor Bartley
Mattias Ekholm – Ryan Ellis
Goalies
Game Info
Opening Face-off: 7:30pm PST
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
TV: LOCAL