Blades of Teal
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Five Potential Playoff Opponents for the San Jose Sharks

By Michael Gutnick

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 21: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings and Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks battle for the puck during the third period of the game at STAPLES Center on March 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 21: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings and Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks battle for the puck during the third period of the game at STAPLES Center on March 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 16: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) holds off Nashville Predators center Mathieu Olivier (64) during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Nashville Predators on March 16, 2019, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 16: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) holds off Nashville Predators center Mathieu Olivier (64) during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Nashville Predators on March 16, 2019, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators are always on the prowl down the final rigorous stretch of the season. Even though Music City is home to the reigning Central Division champs, the road to reclaim the throne is not sweet music to their ears.

The Predators are neck-and-neck with the Winnipeg Jets for the top two spots in the Central. However, the Jets hold the slight advantage with a two-point cushion and a game in hand.

Peter Laviolette’s team has embraced a season summed up perfectly as a never-ending rollercoaster, twisting and turning with more cold streaks than hot. Nevertheless, whenever the Predators enter the playoff hunt, they serve as a stealthy target to not go unnoticed.

It was not long ago the Sharks faced a menacing Predators team in their promising 2016 playoff campaign.

Through a triple overtime contest and an intense heavy-hitting, goaltending showdown, the San Jose Sharks narrowly survived the onslaught of aggressive offense in the end, outlasting Nashville in the second round of the playoffs 4-3 in the best-of-seven series.

Fast forward three years, the Sharks and the Predators stand as two of the best defensive teams in the NHL.

Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson on one end and PK Subban and Roman Josi on the other – these Norris Trophy-caliber blueliners will do everything it takes to carry their team to the finish line in first place.

The Predators began their 2018-2019 campaign with a promising roster of loaded talent, however a plague in special teams play has cost them to a large extent.

Even with Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen, and a plethora of lethal quarterbacks to utilize at the point, the Predators have capitalized just 12.8% of their power play opportunities, ranking 30th in the league only ahead of the Montreal Canadiens.

While their penalty kill ability lies in the middle of the pack, a weak power play will not suffice in the postseason. The deadline additions of veteran wingers Wayne Simmonds and Mikael Granlund look to turn Nashville’s offensive struggles around with the man-advantage.

The key to Nashville’s playoff success will be the smoldering production from their top-heavy forwards in even-strength play along with the electric energy from the fans at Bridgestone Arena, one of the loudest and most difficult stadiums to compete in.

Luckily, the Sharks hold the series victory over the Predators, taking the first game of the season on the road in dramatic fashion. Down 4-1 in the third period, Joe Pavelski, Brendan Dillon, Brent Burns and the Sharks scored four unanswered goals to storm past the Predators for the 5-4 finish in Music City to kick off a pivotal three-game road trip on the right note.

The San Jose Sharks nearly blew a lead when they crossed paths again in the middle of November, but the Sharks stalwart defense locked down to a clinch the 5-4 nail-biter over Nashville at SAP Center.

However, when the two met in the regular season series finale last week, the Sharks uncomfortably lost 4-2 on home ice to the Predators without an important pair of core blueliners in Erik Karlsson and Radim Simek.

While the Sharks seek to get everyone back in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one wave of momentum could push the Predators past the Sharks in a closely contested competition.

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