San Jose Mercury News – Predators top Sharks, even series

April 13th, 2007 by chuq

This time the Sharks lost a player and the game.

Right wing Steve Bernier needed help leaving the ice early in the second period of their 5-2 defeat Friday to the Nashville Predators.

The increasingly violent series is tied 1-1. Game 3 is Monday in San Jose.

Predators rookie Alexander Radulov, who has three goals in this series, received a major penalty for hitting Bernier from behind and was ejected with a game misconduct.

The post-game coach press conference consisted of Ron Wilson coming out and saying “no comment”, and leaving. Smart move, anything else would have entailed a fine by the league.

On the other hand, give Nashville credit for stepping it up, dirty hits or no, and the Sharks not really responding well. Preds won that game, Bernier injury or not.

I do have one comment, though: will someone tell Forsberg to stop whining? He acts as if he expects special dispensation, that he can do obvious stuff and it shouldn’t be called. And kudos to the refs for calling the diving. Wish we saw more of that.

A split in nashville, the Sharks come home. thornton and marleau need to show more leadership adn take charge more. But we got Cheechoo back and he played surprisingly well for someone who some thought was gone for the season; I doubt we’ll be so lucky with Bernier, but Radulov is likely suspended, hopefully for the series. He earned it.

Playoff hockey is a war — or should be. But war is not a street fight, and that’s what the Predators are turning this in to. And that’s not good for the game, if it’s allowed to continue, which I am fretting it will.