Nashville Predators vs. San Jose Sharks Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Semifinals Game Six – May 9, 2016
The San Jose Sharks looked like a tired and old team leaving the ice following their game four triple-overtime loss to the Preds in Nashville. That did not last long at all though, as the Sharkies absolutely murdered the Preds in game five just two days ago 5-1 in Cali.
It’s put up or shut up time for Nashville trailing the series 3-2 though, and the Sharks are relishing the opportunity to get out of this series. Should San Jose win tonight, they’ll face either the Stars or Blues in the Western Conference Final. Meaning, they’ll need their rest either way taking on a younger squad. And, once again, meaning this game is even more important for their aging lineup.
This is San Jose’s first game six of the postseason but they are 1-0 in road elimination games thus far. They knocked off the heavily favored Kings in Los Angeles 6-3 just a few weeks ago.
San Jose will need to keep the Predators to the outside. Nashville is a very skilled team with excellent shooters but they’re not dangerous, if they can’t create traffic in front – hence their game four winner from Mike Fisher. If the Sharks can manhandle the Preds out of the slot, like they did in game five, they’re a sure thing to advance to round three.
San Jose is 21-7 ATS on the road when the total is 5.0 or less this season.
The Nashville Predators are in all-too-familiar territory right now. Last round against the Anaheim Ducks, they fought off elimination twice, with a 3-1 game six win and a 2-1 win in game seven. The Predators are used to being underdogs and they seem to excel when nobody expects them to.
Pekka Rinne has been fantastic all series-long. And, by that, we mean all series-long until game five. The 5-1 loss was shocking to most, considering the momentum wave that the team was riding after their huge triple-OT victory to even the series at 2-2.
They’re back home in familiar territory and are undefeated (2-0) in this series at Bridgestone Arena. If the Predators want to stay alive, they’ll need Pekka Rinne to be Pekka Rinne. No more off-nights. He needs to be perfect in this game and will need another strong showing in game seven, should they take the win this evening. He is their undisputed leader at this point. Mike Fisher has played well and Shea Weber has been brutal. They need Rinne in a bad bad way to keep their heads above water.
The Predators are 216-174 ATS coming off a loss since their inception in 1996. #RandomFact
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