Journey to the Stanley Cup Final: Nashville Predators

In what had become a familiar result for the Nashville Predators and their fans, the team lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup finalist San Jose Sharks. 

On January 30, 2017, Shea Weber, then the captain of the Nashville Predators, and P.K. Subban, then the anchor of the Montreal Canadiens defense, competed against each other in the Hardest Shot Competition at the NHL All-Star Game in Nashville. Five months later, they switched teams, in a player-for-player trade that would shock the hockey world and devastate many Canadiens fans. Subban, in particular, was warmly embraced by his new home of Nashville.

With their roster talent, their splashy new defenseman, and their highly-regarded coach, the Predators were expected to post better regular season results than they eventually did. They play in the most challenging NHL division, however, and made the playoffs as the second Wild Card team with a total of 94 points, the fewest of any playoff team. 

Fans and media alike did not expect the Predators to get very far in the playoffs due to their disappointing regular season results. The Predators are the 16th overall seed and were the second Wild Card team in their conference. The team encouraged their fans to "Stand With Us" - their playoff motto -and those fans have been rewarded for their loyalty with the greatest postseason in franchise history.

Before the playoffs started, the Chicago Blackhawks (perennial Stanley Cup contenders) were expected easily beat the Predators along the way to making a deep run. Instead, the Predators swept the series and held the Blackhawks to just three goals in those four games.

The St. Louis Blues, another team with a recent history of unceremonious playoff exits, proved to be a slightly tougher test for the Predators, in that they actually managed to score goals as well as defend their own net. However, the Predators dispatched them in six games anyway. 

In the first game of the series against the Blues, forward Kevin Fiala suffered a broken leg that will sideline him until next season. Fiala is regularly seen cheering his teammates on as he recovers, but he has been missed on the ice.

One major factor in the Predators' success is that starting goaltender Pekka Rinne has returned to the level of play that he had been known for. His save percentage dipped significantly in the 2015-2016 season, but fans were relieved to see that this change has not been permanent.

Thanks to this playoff run, the hockey world is noticing what Predators fans and true diehard hockey fans have known for years: Nashville is a top hockey town and has been for years. The Preds and their fans have not been shy about their brand of Hockey Tonk fandom, and a hockey game in the city has become a bucket list item for sports fans everywhere. 

Under Head Coach Randy Carlyle, the Anaheim Ducks have forged an identity for themselves as a tough, bruising team. The Western Conference Final proved to be an extremely physical series for the Predators, with many hits sending them flying all over the place. 

Before Game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Predators and the Ducks, it was announced that Ryan Johansen had undergone surgery and would be out for the remainder of the season. The injury was later confirmed to be an acute compartment syndrome, which could have been extremely dangerous. While Johansen is fortunate in that he is expected to make a full recovery, his absence from the ice will be significant against the Penguins. 

At the time of Johansen's injury, the series was tied at 2 games apiece, which meant that all either team had to do was be the first to win two games. The Predators managed to rally and win Games 5 and 6, with Colton Sissons scoring a hat trick in Game 6 to send the Anahem Ducks home. 

Through drafting, patience, and trade, Predators General Manager David Poile has build a defense that comprises four players who could easily be the top defensmen on many other NHL teams. Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, and P.K. Subban together make up a defense that manages to contain most forward lines in the league.   

The Pittsburgh Penguins have the two best hockey players in the world on their roster in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The best team defense in the league will have their hands full with the Penguins offense, which also boasts players like Phil Kessel and rookie sensation Jake Guentzel.

One way the Predators have been enhancing the game experience for their fans has been to have the biggest stars in country music sing the national anthem before their games during the playoffs. The identity of the singer is always kept a secret until game time, although in Tricia Yearwood's case, the surprise was somewhat spoiled by her husband Garth Brooks

Simply put: everything the Predators have got. The Penguins have the advantages of some of the most skilled players in history and very recent experience winning the Stanley Cup. Their top defenseman is not playing, but the rest of them have stepped up in his absence. Their starting goaltender is back in the lineup. So the Predators defense will have to be able to keep it together, Pekka Rinne will have to be the best he's ever been, and the team will have to find as many ways to score as they possibly can. 

If you're not already a fan of one of these teams, then you can't go wrong with jumping on either team's bandwagon. Cancel all your game day plans and get your game face on, like Sidney Crosby, who thrives on big games and moments like these, is doing. Whether you're leaning towards a team or prefer to remain neutral, this promises to be a final for the ages.