NHL Playoff Wars: Predators, Sharks Slug It Out

You need look no further than the Nashville-San Jose matchup for old-time playoff hockey.

With the bad blood between the two teams already boiling over going into Game Three, fans can only hope that the series goes the full seven.

Nashville coach Barry Trotz claims that his club hasn't been the aggressor. San Jose coach Ron Wilson wants to let his team's play do the talking.

"Our responses aren't about beating anybody up or any of that baloney," Wilson said. "We took home ice from them. The pressure is on them now. We're still in the driver's seat...we'll win the game on the ice."

I have to lean towards supporting the Sharks here. They've had one player in each of the first two games injured on questionable hits by the Predators.

First there was Scott Hartnell and Jonathan Cheechoo in a knee-on-knee collision. Surprisingly, Cheechoo played in Game Two though in noticeable pain and discomfort.

In that second game, Alexander Radulov, the Predators' best scorer in these young playoffs, laid a brutal hit from behind on Steve Bernier of the Sharks. Hartnell escaped punishment, but Radulov has been suspended for Game Three.

Extracurricular activity aside, I firmly believe that San Jose will win this series in seven games. The Sharks have been very disciplined, while the Predators have been hit with a large number of penalties. If the San Jose power play unit can start producing, Nashville will be in a great deal of trouble.

And so: Sharks in seven...in a perfect world.