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San Jose Sharks 5, Nashville Predators 1: Pavelski, Sharks Control Series

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

Following an epic victory at home on Thursday night in Game 4, the Preds got pummeled in Game 5, losing to the Sharks 5-1. It wasn’t pretty.

From the very beginning, it was a turnover-fest for the Preds. Nothing looked right on the ice for the boys in white & gold. They could not handle the small black disc of rubber, despite their efforts. The Sharks applied enough pressure to turn all of Nashville into a diamond and the Preds just couldn’t handle it. The Sharks piled up 4 goals in the 1st and 2nd periods and then clamped the door shut in the 3rd. Again, it wasn’t pretty.

Mike Fisher scored for the Predators. Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski (x2), Logan Couture, and Melker Karlsson scored for the Sharks.

That’s the 2nd-worst hangover I’ve seen this team suffer in this year’s playoffs (Game 3 vs. Anaheim). Just an awful performance on the ice, and not something we are used to seeing. And so the season comes down to Monday night in Nashville.

Random Observations

  • Boy, you wouldn’t think these teams played for over 100 minutes less than 48 hours ago. Lots of life in the legs of both teams. The Sharks are in a frenzy right now, as many expected. Manage the 1st period, that’s all you need to do.
  • The inevitable happened. The Sharks score first after 10+ minutes of domination. Marleau squeezes one by Rinne’s near post after the Preds committed a couple defensive turnovers. Honestly? It could be 2-0 (or worse) right now, so…
  • And the crazy 1st period continues. Mike Fisher ties the game, following another great shift by his line. Wilson with yet another playoff point. But then the Preds defense leaves Pavelski right in front of Rinne less than a minute later and the Sharks take the lead back.
  • 2nd Period: Bad gets badder. Couture breaks in untouched and beats Rinne. Ruh-roh.
  • Things are just really sloppy in the Preds end right now. The forwards can’t generate an offensive attack because the defense is overrun. And, my god, the turnovers. Just no puck control at all right now. And it’s not all on one guy or one line. No one on the Preds is playing well right now. Just need to get through it, hopefully without giving up more goals.
  • And things didn’t get much better with the Preds first power-play opportunity. The puck might as well be made of kryptonite. Absolutely nothing going in the offensive end of the ice.
  • Passes = poor. Puck control = worse. Decision making = slow. Turnovers = numerous.
  • Pavelski scores again. [rage-quit]
  • 3rd Period highlights: there were some shots on net, I think.
  • Honestly, it was all just so, so bad from the 2 minute mark of the 1st period and on.
  • Mike Ribeiro still can’t hockey.

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Filip Forsberg: The best possession player on the ice for the Preds. Clanged a post early. Maybe if that puck goes in, the game plays out differently.
  • Mike Fisher: A nice early goal, but his line (along with all the others) was not great tonight. Turned the puck over like crazy.
  • Anthony Bitetto + Barret Jackman: The only defensive pairing to not give up a goal, plus they were out there for the Fisher goal. Tony B finally played a decent game this series.

Tweets of the Night

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick

Roll the video highlights…


Talking Points