Logan Couture – Earned 3 points in game 7 of Western Conference Semi-FInals – File Photo by Jack Lima
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks dominated game seven of the Conference Semi-Finals, sending the Nashville Predators home and advancing to the Western Conference Finals for their fourth time in franchise history. They will face the St. Louis Blues on Sunday evening.
The 5-0 shutout win over the Predators was a full team effort, including goals by Joe Pavelski, Joel Ward, Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau.
San Jose’s netminder, Martin Jones was stellar in the net, blocking all 20 shots by the Predators. The overall team defense helped to make the difference. There were hard hits at both ends of the ice, by both teams.
Nashville’s Pekka Renne started the game in the net, made 21 saves, but was ultimately chased out after the fifth goal against him during the third period, in favor of Carter Hutton, who faced only a single shot on net.
Joe Pavelski, File photo by Jack Lima
The Sharks took the early lead, when Pavelski hammered home the puck on a power play at 9:02 into the period. The play began with Thornton, who had the puck near the blue line, then sent it down low to Patrick Marleau, to wrist the shot to a waiting Pavelski in the slot. Pavelski redirected the puck over Renne’s shoulder for the goal. It was Pavelski’s ninth goal of the post-season.
With just over three minutes remaining in the period, Joel Ward scooped up the puck from the neutral zone and raced to the net, beating Renne for the goal. The Sharks outshot the Predators 17-3 during the first period.
The solo goal scorer in the second period was Logan Couture. He caught a loose puck from in front of the net from a turn-over and dropped it in the five-hole to put the Sharks up 3-0 only 36 seconds into the period, unassisted. The teams finished the period, nearly even on shots for the period, with San Jose leading 6-5.
Brent Burns (88) and Joe Thornton (19) line up for a face off – FIle Photo by Jack Lima
Despite the Predators unloading 12 shots on goal against the Sharks (Sharks had four during the period), Jones held strong in the net. There were a couple of good scoring chances for Nashville, but they just couldn’t solve Jones.
The third period began with a power play for the Sharks, while Mattias Ekholm served a cross-checking minor from the last second of the second period. Thornton tipped the puck into the net when Renne wasn’t able to hold onto a blocked shot only 32 seconds into the period. Couture was credited with the assist on the play. Three minutes later, Marleau finished a series of passes right into the net, when Renne over committed on the opposite side. The goal seemed to cause Renne to have a breakdown – smashing his stick as he skated off the ice.
Hutton was put in to finish the last 16 plus minutes of the game. The rest is history, as the Sharks held onto the 5-0 lead until the final bell.
Patrick Marleau, File photo by Jack Lima
The Sharks held the Predators to only 10 shots in first 50 minutes of the game. Couture had three points for the night, with a goal and two assists, earning the first star of the game honors.
The Western Conference Finals begin on Sunday, May 15 at St. Louis. Game two on Tuesday, May 17 and the teams return to SAP Center for game three and four on May 19 and 21 respectively. If needed Game five on May 23, is in St. Louis and, game six on May 25 in San Jose then back to St. Louis for game seven on May 27.
The winner advances to the Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin on May 31.
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