The Sharks might not have been expecting to face Nashville in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the under-publicized Predators are a formidable roadblock as San Jose tries to advance to the NHL’s final four for the first time since 2011.
Nashville reached the Western Conference semifinal series, which begins Friday in San Jose, by beating the Pacific Division-champion Ducks 2-1 in Anaheim on Wednesday, the first Game 7 in the Predators’ 18 seasons in the NHL.
The Sharks, who opened their first-round series in Los Angeles against the Kings and eliminated them in five games, have the home-ice advantage in the second round by virtue of finishing ahead of the Preds in regular season (98 points to 96).