Here are five takeaways from the Predators’ 3-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 2 of their second-round series Sunday at SAP Center:
Reversal of fortune: In the first round, the Predators won the first two games against the Ducks, taking a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the first time in team history. Roughly 86 percent of teams that win the first two games of a seven-game series historically prevail, just like Nashville did against Anaheim. The Predators are now in the same predicament, losing the first two games at SAP Center to return to Nashville down by two. The difference in this series so far is that San Jose has made the plays when it needed them, like captain Joe Pavelski’s rebound goal with 2:40 remaining. The Predators haven’t been outclassed, but the Sharks have been opportunistic.
THE TENNESSEAN
Predators down 2-0 to Sharks, but remain confident
Where has all the offense gone: In the Predators’ five losses this postseason, they’ve scored a total of seven goals. On Sunday, they took 39 shots, a playoff high, but could only score twice. Nashville did an adequate job of generating high-quality scoring chances, but the Predators need to hunt for rebounds like the Sharks did Sunday, which led to their first and second goals. That’s how those “lucky bounces” are created.
Rinne spectacular: The reason why the Predators were able to stay in the game despite their lack of finish was the spectacular play of goaltender Pekka Rinne, who made 22 saves. Look no further than his back-to-back saves early in the second period on a Sharks rush into the zone, which you can watch below. Since Game 6 of the first round, Rinne has a 1.79 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. (continue reading at Tennessean)