Thu 12/05/2016 - 11:25 EDT

Nashville Predators Vs San Jose Sharks Game 7 Preview

Nashville Predators Vs San Jose Sharks Game 7 Preview

The San Jose Sharks posted the worst home-ice record of any team to make the playoffs. The Nashville Predators have never reached the conference final. Something has to give as these teams meet in Game 7 at the Shark Tank.

NHL Playoff Game 7 Prediction & Betting Line

By Bob Duff

Nashville Predators (+165) at San Jose Sharks (-179)

pavelski 

To defeat the Sharks in Game 7 at move on to face the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference final, the Predators will be required to do something they've never done in franchise history - win a playoff game at San Jose's SAP Center. The Predators are 0-7 in the Shark Tank during postseason play, but prior to their first round against the Anaheim Ducks, they'd never played a Game 7 before and they won that, so never say never. Visiting teams are 2-1 in Game 7 so far in this spring's playoffs and the team that scores first is 3-0.

While the Predators have never played in a conference final, the Sharks will be seeking to advance to that stage for the fourth time, but for the first time since 2011. The home team has won all six games in this series and the Sharks, who won just 18 of 41 regular-season games at the SAP Center, 26th overall in the NHL, are 4-0 there in the playoffs. Both coaches - Nashville's Peter Laviolette (5-1) and San Jose's Peter DeBoer (1-0) - are success stories in Game 7.

 

Laviolette moved Viktor Arvidsson up to the top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen for Game 6 and Arvidsson responded by scoring the overtime winner for Nashville.

It was his first career Stanley Cup goal and second goal in 32 games. Colin Wilson, who scored the goal that sent the game to OT, is riding a franchise-record seven-game point streak (4-5-9) and his 5-8-13 numbers lead the team in playoff scoring. Wilson tallied 6-18-24 totals in 64 regular season games.

Sharks center Logan Couture has 5-3-8 totals in this series. San Jose's Brent Burns leads all defensemen in Stanley Cup scoring with 15 points. Sharks winger Matt Nieto (undisclosed injury) did not practice Wednesday. If he can't go, Tommy Wingels would draw in on the fourth line and Melker Karlsson would move up to Nieto's spot on the third line.

Pick: The Sharks (-179) 

Category : News

More articles...
News - 12/06/25
Florida is Now the Overwhelming Favorite to Win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals 

What: 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Who: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers When: Game 4 is Thursday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET Where: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida How to watch: TNT and Max It's funny how things can change in the span of a week or so. Before the final series of […]

News - 04/06/25
Belmont Stakes 2025: Baeza is in line for classic glory 

The third and final leg of the Triple Crown happens Saturday, June 7: the Belmont Stakes. Like last year, it will be a little different than the traditional Belmont: it will be run at 1 ΒΌ miles at Saratoga Race Course, since Belmont Park is still under construction. The race offers a $2 million purse, […]

News - 02/06/25
Oklahoma City is a Big Favorite to Win the 2025 NBA Finals Over Indiana 

What: 2025 NBA Finals Who: Oklahoma City vs. Indiana Pacers When: Game 1 is set for June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma How to watch: ABC After a thrilling postseason leading up to this stage, only two teams are left in the hunt to take home the Larry […]

News - 02/06/25
Best UFC 316 Bets: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley Picks 

What: UFC 316 Who: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley in the main event When: Saturday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey How to watch: ESPN+ There's a title on the line at UFC 316 and there's a main event that people can't wait for. That's right, it's that […]