Another loss to Predators might be difference for Sharks in wild-card race originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Sharks will figure it out.
But maybe not this year?
San Jose lost 6-3 to the Nashville Predators again on Saturday, repeating the same score from their Mar. 24 defeat at Bridgestone Arena.
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The Sharks now are two points behind Nashville for the final Western Conference wild-card spot, with two teams to leapfrog. They do have a game in hand on both the Preds and Los Angeles Kings.
These losses to Nashville — tonight was Team Teal’s 15th straight to the Predators, dating back to Nov. 2019 — ultimately might be the difference between the playoffs or not.
A lot of the Sharks’ youth struggled in the playoff-like atmosphere tonight.
“Mentally, you gotta be ready. Number one,” Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, alluding to falling behind 3-0 in the first period. “And two, physically, you got to be ready. You got to be physical. You got to get into people. You can’t play at the end of your stick. And we had some guys playing at the end of their stick tonight.”
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Will Smith, for example, had difficulty with the puck and pace, and was just swallowed up at times by an aggressive Predators PK: He’s also just 21 and has a history of clutch performances on the biggest stages. He’ll be fine.
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