Few expected the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators to meet in the second round of the NHL playoffs, but the two teams will now square off in a deciding Game 7 after each team took care of business by winning all three of their home games.
With the series heading back to California, here's three players who may control the fate of their clubs as they hope to reach the Western Conference Final.
Shea Weber
While the Predators captain has played solid at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville since the regular season began, Weber's play away from home has been significantly worse, and he'll need to snap out of that slump on Thursday.
| Postseason | G | A | +/- | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 2 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
| Away | 1 | 2 | -7 | 12 |
So far in the playoffs, Weber's minus-7 rating in away games is tied for the worst in the NHL. This issue extends back to the regular season, where the 30-year-old posted a dismal minus-16 rating on the road, compared to a plus-9 at home.
One of three nominees announced last week for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, Weber's leadership will desperately be needed in Game 7, as the veteran blue-liner hopes to add a Stanley Cup ring to a trophy case already featuring four gold medals from international play.
Logan Couture
While Weber has struggled on the road, one opposing forward has excelled more than anyone else at SAP Center this series, and that is Couture.
Though he's been terrific throughout the playoffs in leading Sharks forwards with 14 points in 11 games, his play has truly reached another level at home against the Predators, recording four goals and an assist across three victories.
His presence in the lineup has been game-changing for San Jose this season, as his team boasted a 33-14-5 record when the 27-year-old played, but went 13-14-1 without him after he suffered a fractured fibula early in the season.
While fellow stars Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, and Joe Thornton will all be expected to contribute as well, Couture may just be the X-factor that pushes San Jose to new heights this spring.
Pekka Rinne
He's tended the Predators' net in all three postseason-series victories in franchise history, and the three-time Vezina finalist needs to steal just one more game to reach the Conference Finals for the first time in his career.
Rinne was certainly up to the task in Round 1, posting a masterful 36-save effort on the road against the Anaheim Ducks and leading the Predators to a 2-1 win in the first Game 7 of his career.
After an unfortunate slip-up in the crease allowed Couture to give the Sharks a 3-2 third-period lead in Game 6 on Monday, the 33-year-old goalie was the most relieved to see the Predators tie things up less than three minutes later and eventually seal the game in overtime.
"I wanted to thank the guys when they scored that third goal," Rinne said, per The Tennessean. "The way the guys responded, it's unbelievable. I'm just happy to be here going into Game 7."
The final game of the second round now provides Rinne another chance to reward his teammates with another series-stealing performance.
