San Jose Sharks Travel To Nashville For Game Three

With a 2-0 lead in hand, the Sharks look to extend their road playoff win-streak to four games as they take on a Predators team in need of a win.

The Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks’ mindset are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum as the series shifts to Music City for Game Three.

The Sharks are looking to steal at least one of these next two on the road to put themselves in a great position to close out the series. On the other hand, the Preds know they’ll have to protect home ice and win these next two to get back in it.

But that will be a tough task, because team teal saved maybe their best hockey of the season for the playoffs. San Jose is 6-1 in the postseason and has put on quite the show on the power play.

Brent Burns is making an unprecedented push into Norris Trophy consideration with 12 playoff points, Joe Thornton is playing like 2006 Joe Thornton, and Joe Pavelski has arguably been the most clutch playoff performer in the league with 10 points and a four-game point-streak. Logan Couture has eight points in his last four games.

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Nashville can’t keep relying on Pekka Rinne, their top four defensemen and Colin Wilson to do all the work for them on both ends of the ice. Three of their top five postseason scorers are blue-liners, and forwards they depended on offensively in the regular season have been nowhere to be found in the playoffs. In nine playoff games, Filip Forsberg has three points, James Neal has three points and Mike Ribeiro has one point.

Expect the Preds to come out with a more calculated plan offensively, as they did throw 39 shots at Martin Jones in Game Two, yet very few of those were quality chances.

Players to Watch

Sharks: Tomas Hertl. Not too many bad things can be said about Hertl’s recent play, but he’s been one of the few Sharks who hasn’t been overly impressive in the playoffs. He’s stuck on three points and is averaging two shots per game despite seeing more ice time. He scored in the series opener, but has been relatively quiet in recent weeks besides that. His line struggled overall in Game Two, so look for a bounce back performance from Hertl in tonight’s pivotal matchup.

Predators: Filip Forsberg. Neal is probably the most complete forward the Predators have, but Forsberg is their most electrifying player with the puck, and he is used to being the catalyst offensively for a Preds team who lacks a ton of punch besides him. He’s gone scoreless in his last seven games. That will have to change for Nashville to have a fighting chance of getting back in the series.

Keys to the Game

1. Don’t Give Forsberg Breathing Room

The 21 year-old Swede is one of the most dangerous players in the league with the puck on his stick, and there is no question part of the Preds game plan will be getting him in open space to make plays. The Sharks have done a good job of pressuring him and the rest of their forwards on the back check and they’ll have to continue that in Game Three.

2. Get Pucks On Net

Thornton said before Game Two that they need to shoot when they’re open, even if it may not be the greatest look, and that was the reason team teal won the second game as both of their non-empty net goals came on rebounds. Rinne has been stout in the crease for Nashville but has allowed a decent share of second and third chances.

Next: Sharks Power Play Has Been Dominant In The Playoffs

3. Steal One In Nashville

Sweeping a good team like the Predators is a tough task, and while the Sharks are only two wins away from doing so, it wouldn’t be fair to expect them to win both on the road. Going back to the Bay with a 3-1 lead would be a great situation to be in for the Sharks, but San Jose should be greedy and look to potentially bury this Nashville team with a win tonight.