NHL Playoff Schedule 2016: Latest Bracket Details, TV Coverage and Picks

Three of the four conference finalists have been decided, and the San Jose Sharks will try to use their home-ice advantage Thursday night to become the final team to make it that far.  

While home ice has been decisive in the conference semifinal series between the Sharks and Nashville Predators, there are no guarantees heading into the seventh game at the SAP Center. The Sharks struggled quite a bit on home ice during the regular season (18-20-3), and unlike this series, they actually played much better hockey on the road.

The Sharks have also struggled in big playoff games over the years. They have never been to the Stanley Cup Final despite being one of the most consistent teams in the league over the years. The Chicago Blackhawks beat them in the Western Conference Final in 2010, and the Vancouver Canucks did the same in 2011.

The pressure of the moment tends to weigh on the franchise's fanbase, but the players are only concerning themselves with how they are playing now.

Matchup	Series Standing	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks	3-3	9 p.m.	NBCSN, TVAS	San Jose

Defenseman Paul Martin is new to the franchise this year, and he is aware of the team's reputation of being unable to handle the biggest moments. He told NHL.com's Shawn P. Roarke there are no indications the Sharks will struggle in those situations now.

"I think it hangs [around] more so because of the media, the fans or the people telling the story. 'They can't get over the hump,' that's always going to be there," Martin said. "Everyone's always going to point that out. From my experience being here in the locker room with the guys the whole year, it's a good group."

Conference	Matchup	First Game	Prediction
Eastern	Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins	May 13	Pittsburgh
Western	Nashville Predators or San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues	TBD	St. Louis (vs. either opponent)

Veteran center Joe Thornton has had to bear quite a bit of criticism for not coming through in the biggest games throughout his career. It started with the Boston Bruins and continued in San Jose after he was traded to the Sharks in 2005-06. He says he is looking forward to playing in Game 7.

"It's the best feeling you can possibly have as an athlete," Thornton said Wednesday, per Roarke. "The fans are incredible and they're jacked up. Playing at home [in Game 7] is one of the best feelings you can have as an athlete. Everything you work for comes down to one game. It's a great feeling."

The Predators don't appear to be concerned about playing on the road in the decisive game in the series. They advanced past the Anaheim Ducks when they won a 2-1 effort at the Honda Center in Game 7, and head coach Peter Laviolette has a 5-1 career record in Game 7s throughout his career.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

"There's no magic piece of paper in my pocket, I can tell you that," Laviolette told NHL.com's Eric Gilmore. "Our guys will be ready. Our players are excited about going there, excited about the opportunity to get to a Game 7 and play in it."

The Sharks will depend on their Big Three of Brent Burns, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski. Burns leads the team with 15 points, while Couture has five goals in this series against the Predators and 14 points overall. Pavelski has eight goals and 12 points during the postseason.

The Predators have gotten a huge playoff performance from Colin Wilson, who has scored five goals and 13 points, while Roman Josi is second on the team with nine points. James Neal and Ryan Johansen are right behind with eight points apiece.

The winner of Thursday night's game will take on the St. Louis Blues, who advanced to the Western Conference Final after registering a 6-1 road victory in Game 7 over the Dallas Stars Wednesday night.

The Blues will have home ice in that series no matter who wins in the SAP Center.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will entertain the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final and will have home-ice advantage in that series.

Prediction

The Predators are not going to be intimidated by playing on the road in the decisive game in the series. They will bring their best effort and present a major challenge for the Sharks.

The Preds are a feisty team and are capable of hanging with the Sharks for the first two periods. However, the tendency here is to agree with Martin and believe that San Jose will thrive in the biggest moment. 

San Jose will advance to the Western Conference Final with a 4-2 victory.