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Predators look to even series with Sharks

Apr 13, 2007 - 1:46 PM San Jose at Nashville 8:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals Sharks lead series, 1-0

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - After a much-needed day off, the Nashville Predators host the San Jose Sharks in Game Two of their Western Conference quarterfinals matchup Friday.

It took more than 88 minutes for the Sharks to secure a 5-4 victory in the opener, a game that ended when Patrick Rissmiller scored at 8:14 of the second overtime.

The Sharks, who eliminated the Predators in five games in last year's quarterfinal matchup, led 4-2 in the third period. But Nashville forced overtime with goals from rookie Alexander Radulov and J.P. Dumont, who scored with 50.4 seconds remaining.

Evgeni Nabokov made 39 saves in the win while counterpart Tomas Vokoun made 33 stops for Nashville, which was participating in the first overtime playoff game in franchise history.

The Sharks won despite losing high-scoring right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, who left the game nine minutes into the second period following a knee-to-knee check by the Predators' Scott Hartnell. It is unclear whether Cheechoo, who was scheduled to have an MRI, will be available for Game Two.

Whether the hit was inadvertent already is a point of contention between the two teams. Hartnell was given a five-minute kneeing major and game misconduct.

The Predators have lost five consecutive postseason contests - all against the Sharks.