These games will count.
But the Predators and Sharks are keeping in perspective that each of these games will count for more than two points in the standings. They're balancing business with the bigger picture.
Instead of closing their practices to the public Thursday, the Predators and Sharks opened them. Music played while they skated before a few thousand fans at the arena, including many kids in NHL, Czech and youth jerseys.
"We were all those kids at some point," Predators center Ryan Johansen said, "and it's just cool with our platforms to inspire and encourage and just kind of make their days and show them that their dreams, if they want to play in the NHL, they can reach them."
One father in the stands Thursday put his 4-year-old son on his shoulders to make sure he could see. The son was wearing a Tomas Hertl Sharks T-shirt.
Hertl is the main attraction here.
Born and raised in Prague, he played for Slavia Praha HC from 2010-13 before joining the Sharks in 2013-14. At that time, the team played in the Czech Extraliga, the country's top professional league, and called O2 Arena home.
Hertl has become a brilliant player and personality in San Jose. Four times, he has scored at least 20 goals. Twice, he has scored at least 30. But Czech fans have had to follow him from afar.
This is their chance to see him in person. Some came to practice Thursday because they couldn't get tickets to either game. Hertl spoke to the crowd in an interview on the ice at the end of practice.
"It was awesome," Hertl said with his trademark smile. "I never had practice with a lot of people like that, and it was just great feeling. You're coming home after 10 years when I used to play in Prague. Now you're playing for Sharks, and there's so many kids cheering, cheering for us. It was an absolutely great experience, and I can't even wait for tomorrow's game."
Sharks coach David Quinn said Hertl's homecoming could spur his teammates.
"We seem to be a close-knit group, and no one is more respected or liked than Tomas," Quinn said. "Obviously it's a new season, it's the opening of the season for the National Hockey League, it's our opener, so there's a level of excitement unlike the other games that you play throughout the season. I think playing in Tomas' hometown and being able to watch how excited he is certainly should provide a little bit of extra motivation for our guys."
The Sharks also have defenseman Radim Simek, who was born in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, about 40 minutes northeast of O2 Arena.