Game 6: Second Period

Game 6: Do or Die

Hell's Bells! No one told me how long it is between periods in hockey. I'm going to run out of beer!

Quickly after the start of the second period, Nashville knocked in the equalizer during a 4-on-4. Ryan Johansen tied the game up just 1:25 into the second period. This place is rocking and it's really frickn' exciting. Nashville is pressing the Sharks and keeping them in their end. It was their second 4-on-4 goal of the series.

Nashville kept the pressure up. After a save by Jones on the Colin Wilson shot, play was stopped, but the crowd erupted. The intensity of the Preds is over matching the Sharks at this point. The crowd is pleased with this hard nose play by their home team. 

A line change for Nashville five minutes in was nearly as disastrous for them as it was the Sharks earlier in the game. Nonetheless, Nashville would keep pressing. Shots on goal was back near level after 7 minutes of the second period with San Jose leading 9-8. 

The tying shot would come with 12:45 left; a save by Martin Jones , A graphic was shown on the broadcast that Predators' coach Peter Laviolette is 12-6 in the playoffs when facing elimination. I like his chances. 

The Preds would get a few quick chances, but nothing ever came from it. Jones would cover up to stop play for the time being. Nashville has finally taken an 11-10 SOG lead after not taking their first until after the 10 minute mark of the first period. 

An offside call would stop a Shark attack that lasted over a minute. Great break for the Preds with 8:00 left in the second period as the try to stave off elimination. 

With about 6:00 to go in the period, the Preds had three looks at the goal. After missing, the Sharks went on the attack only to be denied by Rinne who would cover up the puck to send us to the next TV break.

The announcers just asked how late this game would go to which one replied "all night". God I hope not. 

Craig Smith just took a check from Brent Burns that would have sent me to the hospital for at least a week. These are the toughest athletes in sports today. 4:00 left in the second period.

Preds still taking good shots. Looking really good. Shots aren't going in at the moment, but it is obvious who has all of the momentum. SOG now 18-12 in favor of Nashville. Completely different game here in the second period than it was when the Sharks led 2-0.

As the second period ends, it feels like Nashville is up 5-0. The crowd is nuts. Nashville has took the offensive as they have outshot San Jose 13-4 in the period. With the final one remaining, it is bound to be exciting. Game is tied at 2 going to the third.

-Dug

@chansm1th

Game 6: First Period

1st Period

Through the first five minutes, there were a lot of hard hits. No one took the early advantage as defense was key. During this time, only two shots on goal were made. Seven minutes in, Forsberg had a breakaway that he hit wide of everyone. That was Nashville's only real attempt towards goal early. 

Turnovers plagued the Sharks throughout the first half of the first period, but the puck stayed in Nashville's defensive end for most of that time. Through nine minutes, San Jose had taken the only two shots. Hard hits have been a theme. Nashville leads that column 9-5. The first TV break was with 10:45 left.

Shortly after the break, the Sharks broke open the scoring with 10:05 left on what appeared to be a goal by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. A replay would be taken to see if Chris Tierney tipped the puck above the crossbar. After about a minute, it was determined that his stick was below the bar. He would be credited with the goal.

With 8:09 left, Tierney would score again after Pekka Rinne got crossed up after multiple shots. While falling to his back, the puck just slid under Rinne. With the Sharks taking a quick 2-0 lead, the Nashville crowd was taken out of the game. 

San Jose kept up the pressure. It seemed like every time you looked up, Nashville was skating backwards. A sense of urgency was felt early and often. 

With five minutes left in the first period, Nashville had been out shot 6-2. Things were getting desperate. With 4:33 left, the Sharks were going for a line change when they turned the puck over in the neutral zone. A slow flying shot from Roman Josi found its way past Martin Jones to cut the lead in half. Nashville appeared to have the momentum turning and the crowd back into the game. 

After the TV break, the Sharks would threaten relentlessly. After nearly a solid minute of attacking, Renne would drop on a save to stop play. 

For the remaining time of the period, Nashville would live in the Sharks' half of the ice. San Jose would be put on their heels until the intermission. It was clear that Nashville was the aggressor. If that wasn't enough, after a blown whistle on a save, a scuffle breaks out in the crease on San Jose's end with just 15 seconds left. A double penalty was issued for roughing to both Craig Smith of Nashville and Vlasic for San Jose. It will be 4-on-4 for the first 1:45 in the second.

The intermission would come with the Sharks leading 2-1 behind Tierney's pair of goals.

-Dug

@chansm1th