The Sharks had what they thought was the winning goal disallowed and goalie Martin Jones had 35 saves as Game 4 of their playoff series with the Nashville Predators was in double overtime at 3-3 when this edition went to press. There was a combined 87 shots on net as well as 73 blocked shots and 73 landed hits. That series also is tied 2-2.
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“It’s a short memory”, Capuano said.
Blocking shots requires no artistry, simply the willingness and desperation to sacrifice the body by standing, diving onto the ice or sliding across the slot to stop a blistering shot.
While the momentum was in the Predators corner following the Wilson tally, it was quickly taken back a bit thanks to Brent Burns sneaking a wrister past Pekka Rinne from along the boards to knot things up at 1’s just 2:27 after the Preds took the lead. Fisher slammed it home at 9:50 of the first period. A Nashville shot also hit the post in OT. Josi has eight helpers in the post season but has yet to light the lamp.
Without naming specific players, DeBoer said Wednesday some Sharks are being medically evaluated and the team will know more Thursday morning.
Joonas Donskoi scored his third of the play-offs to level the scores at 2-2 heading into the third period.
After reviewing all available replays and consulting with NHL Hockey Operations staff, the Linesman determined that the Sharks tagged up and entered the attacking zone legally prior to the goal. As soon as Forsberg turned it over at the blue line you could just sense that something was about to happen, and it did.
In the third period, a number of early penalties were handed out.
With less than five minutes remaining in the game, James Neal scored for his third goal of the postseason to force overtime.
The Sharks were looking to push Nashville to the brink of elimination, but now have lost two in a row. Both teams went scoreless during the first two overtimes and headed to a third extra period.
The Predators even went on the power play with 10:58 left in overtime, but they could not manage to create any bit of offense whatsoever.
The Predators scored twice on 10 shots in the first period, including a goal 41 seconds into the game by Colin Wilson, who collected a loose puck at the side of the Sharks net after a blast from the point by Mattias Ekholm and scored his fourth of the playoffs. He made 44 saves, including a dandy on Tomas Hertl in the second overtime.
Predators forward Mike Fisher (12) beats Sharks goalie Martin Jones to lift Nashville to a 4-3 victory in triple overtime.
The Sharks outshot the Predators 11-4 in the second overtime, with perhaps their best chance to score coming with 3:49 left. Defenseman Shea Weber had 45:16 of ice time to lead the Predators.
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“We didn’t have a great faceoff night, including myself, I didn’t do too well”, said Sharks forward Joel Ward, who went 1-for-7 in the circle on Tuesday. “Coming out for every period, the fans just got more and more insane out there”. Wilson initially retrieved the puck and then almost fanned on an attempted pass towards Ekholm but it found it’s way to the big Swede regardless. Don’t worry if you wont’ be near a TV though or even near a computer. There has been talk about him being the type of goalie that is able to steal a game, hell, a series for his team, and last night’s game was no exception.
