SHARKS ARE BIGGER PREDATOR IN GAME 7, ADVANCE TO WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Logan Couture registered 1-2—3 and Martin Jones (20 SV) earned his first career playoff shutout to lead the Sharks past the Predators and to their fourth appearance in the Western Conference Finals (also 2004, 2010 and 2011).

Couture, who leads all players with 7-10—17 during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (12 GP), posted 6-5—11 in the seven-game victory vs. NSH.

Jones became the fourth goaltender in Sharks history to earn a postseason shutout and the first to do so in a Game 7. This marks the second straight year that a goaltender recorded a shutout in his first Game 7 appearance – Ben Bishop also achieved that feat with the Lightning in the 2015 First Round vs. Detroit.

Joe Pavelski scored his ninth goal of the playoffs, tying Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov for first place in the NHL and also equaling a Sharks record for goals in one postseason – a mark set by Patrick Marleau in 2006 and matched by Pavelski in 2010. Pavelski also picked up his third game-winning goal of the playoffs, tied for first in the League with Western Conference Final opponent David Backes of the Blues.

CALIFORNIA IS THE PLACE TO BE
A California-based club advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the seventh consecutive season. The Sharks also advanced in 2010 and 2011, followed by three straight appearances by the Kings (2012-14) and then the Ducks in 2015.

THURSDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
SAN JOSE 5, Nashville 0 – SJS wins 4-3

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh, Game 1, 8:00 p.m.

PENGUINS, LIGHTNING OPEN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
The Penguins and Lightning open the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals when they face off in Game 1 at CONSOL Energy Center. This marks the second all-time playoff meeting between these clubs. In the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Tampa Bay overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first and only time in franchise history to defeat Pittsburgh in seven games.

The seventh and decisive contest, a 1-0 victory by the Lightning, featured a 36-save shutout by Dwayne Roloson and the winning goal from Sean Bergenheim. Tampa Bay won all three matchups between these teams in 2015-16 (PIT: 0-2-1); Pittsburgh, however, has been victorious in 21 of its past 26 games on home ice dating to Jan. 17 (regular season and playoffs).