San Jose got the matchup it wanted. The Nashville Predators hung on to defeat the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs, giving the Sharks home ice in the second stanza of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. So now, the Sharks are back in familiar territory. They're favorites again.
With the Blackhawks, Kings and Ducks all knocked out of the playoffs, the Western Conference is wide open. The Dallas Stars are the only team in the conference with a Stanley Cup to their name and the Sharks and Predators are both looking for their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.