A thrilling and dramatic series could only come down to this, a winner-take-all Game 7 battle between the Predators and Sharks with a berth to the Western Conference Final hanging in the balance.
This has been a back-and-forth series for both of these clubs and San Jose failed to wrap it up on the road in Game 6 thanks to a slick overtime goal by Viktor Arvidsson, who notched his first tally of the playoffs on an elusive backhand shot to stave off elimination.
The Sharks have had leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in this series, but the Predators, who have never led, have shown enough fight to force this pivotal Game 7. The winner of this contest will take on the Blues, who downed the Stars, 6-1, Wednesday in their own Game 7 to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
Here are seven keys for Game 7 between the Predators and Sharks:
1) Home Cookin'
The home team has won every game of this series, but will the trend continue in Game 7? The Sharks took Games 1, 2 and 5 at the SAP Center, while the Predators emerged triumphant in Games 3, 4 and 6 at Bridgestone Arena. With the series shifting back to San Jose, anything can happen.
The Sharks were one of the NHL's worst home teams (18-20-3) and actually played better on the road (28-10-3) in the regular season. The Predators had three road wins against the Ducks in Round 1, including a 2-1 victory at Honda Center in the franchise's first Game 7. Road teams are 35-36 in the playoffs this season.
2) Do Or Die
The Sharks have a very up-and-down Game 7 history, while the Predators barely have history at all in these contests. San Jose is 5-4 through their nine do or die games, but have lost their last two. Both of their latest Game 7 losses came at the hands of the Kings, including their last one in which they were blown out, 5-1, and became the fourth NHL team to ever blow a 3-0 series lead.
Faced with their first Game 7 in history -- on the road no less -- the Predators overcame the Ducks, 2-1, last round. The Predators are 3-0 in elimination games this spring after staying alive in Game 6.
3) Point Producers
There's no shortage of star power on each of these teams and some of the big names are getting it done in the postseason. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (15) is tied for the NHL lead in points, while Logan Couture (14) ranks second and Joe Pavelski (12) is tied for fourth. Pavelski's eight goals also rank second in the playoffs, while Couture is tied for fourth with six tallies. Burns also has an NHL-leading 11 assists. San Jose's 3.27 goals per game rank second in the NHL.
Colin Wilson has been the most productive Predator, putting up 13 points to rank tied for second in the league and adding five goals, which ranks tied for fifth. Roman Josi is tied for the club lead with eight assists and has averaged a team-high 28:13 time on ice in the playoffs. Josi has paired up with captain Shea Weber (27:35) to create one of the most formidable blue lines in the NHL.
4) Moving On
Nashville is looking to make it to the Western Conference for the first time in franchise history after making it to the second round for just the third time. The Predators fell to the Canucks in six games and Coyotes in five games the last two times they were in Round 2. San Jose has never made it to the Stanley Cup Final, but does have three appearances in the Western Conference Final. The Sharks fell to the Canucks in 2011 the last time they advanced.
5) Special Teams
Special teams play a major role in almost every Game 7 and that shouldn't be any different on Thursday. The Sharks rank second among the original 16 playoff teams with a 28.2 percent conversion rate on the power play and seventh on the penalty kill (81.8 percent). The Predators are a ghastly 14th on the man advantage (14.9 percent) and rank 10th on the kill (76.7 percent).
6) Pete & Pete
Predators coach Peter Laviolette is coaching in his seventh Game 7 and is 5-1 overall. He owns a 45-43 postseason record and has one Stanley Cup to his name. Sharks bench boss Pete DeBoer won his lone Game 7, a double overtime thriller against the Panthers, when he was the Devils coach in their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. DeBoer is 14-10 in his playoff career.
7) In The Crease
The goalies will go a long way in determining which of these teams emerges victorious. Pekka Rinne, 35, will man the blue paint for Nashville and is 7-6 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this postseason. Last round, he stopped 36 of 37 shots against the Ducks in his first career Game 7.
Martin Jones, 26, will be between the pipes for San Jose and is 7-4 with a 2.35 GAA and an identical .913 save percentage. Jones has never played in a Game 7, but was the backup to Jonathan Quick during the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup in 2014.
