Game 4 between the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators on Thursday was a frantic one, with the game going into three overtimes before the Predators sealed the deal.
The series shifts back to the Bay Area for Game 5 on Saturday, where both teams will be itching to clinch go up that contest to have a huge series advantage moving forward. Who will emerge victorious in this ever-so crucial rubber match? Let’s find out more below.
To know more about other equally exciting NHL playoff bouts on tap, check out our previews for Lightning vs. Islanders and Blues vs. Stars right after this.
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Predators vs. Sharks Game 5 Preview
Where: SAP Center, San Jose
When: Saturday, May 7, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks – view all NHL lines
TV Broadcast: NBCS
Betting on the Nashville Predators
We cannot emphasize enough just how important the nerve-wracking 4-3 triple-overtime victory from Game 4 on Thursday by the Nashville Predators truly is.
Mike Fisher scored the game-winner midway through the third extra period, putting an end to an exhausting night that took a lot out of both clubs that night. Fisher had two goals in Game 4, and has now registered a point in each contest against San Jose in this series as compared to just a single point in the prior seven-game series versus Anaheim.
Forward Colin Wilson, meanwhile, got the Preds off to a blazing start, scoring the first goal of the game with less than a minute into the bout. He now has four goals in this postseason and is riding a five-game point streak of his own.
More importantly, Nashville once again rendered the Sharks’ special teams fruitless. The team shut down six San Jose power play opportunities, mostly in large part due to goalie Pekka Rinne’s superb outing (44 saves).
However, winning Game 5 at the Shark Tank this Saturday will be no easy feat, for sure. Remember: the Sharks took the first two games of the series at the SAP Center. Plus, the Predators are just 3-7 over their last 10 road games, so them having the same energy from their two home games this series is imperative.
Betting on the San Jose Sharks
Fatigue isn’t the only downside that the San Jose Sharks are facing heading into Game 5. With the loss on Thursday night/ early morning of Friday, San Jose lost back-to-back road games for the first time this season since December 18 and 20.
Furthermore, the team has lost its two contests that that didn’t end in regulation this postseason, with the other bout being Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings (and that was on home ice too, mind you).
Nevertheless, the Sharks still fought tooth-and-nail until the very end of Game 4. They outshot the Predators, 47-45, and even forced 19 giveaways from them. The Fins just failed to capitalize on those momentum-shifters.
And still, the Sharks’ main contributors had solid outings all things considered. Martin Jones made 41 saves that night – just three less than Rinne on the other end of the rink – and star defenseman Brent Burns scored two goals for his fifth point of the series.
What must’ve stung, however, was that San Jose lost a golden chance to win the game in OT no. 1. Team MVP Joe Pavelski’s controversial goal in the middle of the period was waived off upon further review by the refs after confirming that Pavelski slammed into Nashville’s Rinne right before tipping-in the puck into the net.
In the end, the Sharks should just take as much time as possible to recuperate from the loss – phisycally and mentally. Anyway, they’ve still won four of their last five home games against the Predators, and four of their last five at the Shark Tank in general.
Writer’s Prediction
San Jose keeps its home-ice advantage intact with a sound Game 5 victory, 4-2.
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