4. MOMENTUM MOMENTS
Nashville liked the game it played for the first 40 minutes of Game 1, but many players felt they were undone by the momentum shift that accompanied the tying power-play goal by Tomas Hertl at 2:37 of the third period. The Sharks went ahead 2-1 nine minutes later and never looked back.
The Predators would like to do a better job of handling those inevitable pushes by the Sharks.
"The penalties we got, they got that momentum, that bit of life," said center Colin Wilson, referencing the two third-period penalties taken by the Predators, each of which resulted in a goal for the Sharks. "Throughout a game, throughout a series, momentum is going to switch. Unfortunately, they were able to get it at in in the third at a very costly time."
5. TO THE FOREFRONT
Nashville did not forecheck as aggressively or as efficiently as it would have liked in Game 1, particularly in the latter stages of the game.
The Predators need to be improve in that area in Game 2. It will allow them to spend more time in the attacking zone and limit San Jose's ability to transition to the attack and establish offensive-zone time of its own.
"We were getting in on the forecheck, getting our chances," Wilson said. "I think just playing a consistent 60-minute game with the energy that we typically have every game [will help]. We stack up well against any team when we do that."