2017 Western Conference Championship

Lore & Background

The 2017 run was a culmination of general manager David Poile's patient rebuild, emphasizing a deep blue line anchored by Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis. The team's defensive system, combined with Rinne's stellar play, allowed them to stifle high-powered offenses, including a sweep of the Blackhawks that featured two overtime wins. The conference final against the Ducks saw the Predators overcome a 2-1 series deficit, with Filip Forsberg's overtime winner in Game 5 turning the tide.

In Their Own Story

The ice in Bridgestone Arena trembled as the final horn sounded, a sea of gold jerseys and thunderous chants of 'Let's Go Preds' drowning out the Anaheim Ducks' last gasp. Pekka Rinne raised his glove to the sky, his mask glistening under the lights, as teammates mobbed each other near the bench. For a franchise born in 1998—a team that once struggled to fill seats in a non-traditional market—this was the moment that transformed a small-market underdog into a hockey powerhouse. It was a conference title earned not through flashy free-agent signings, but through grit, speed, and an unbreakable bond with a city that had learned to love the game.

Reader's Guide

The 2017 Western Conference Championship represents the pinnacle of the Predators' first two decades, an era defined by a 'defense-first' identity and a fanbase that turned the arena into one of the NHL's toughest road venues. This chapter matters because it validated the club's unconventional approach—building through the draft and trades rather than free agency—and introduced the world to 'Smashville' as a hockey destination. The run also highlighted the importance of home-ice advantage, as the Predators went 8-2 at Bridgestone Arena during the playoffs, including a perfect 4-0 in the conference final. For fans, it remains the defining moment of the franchise's early history, a symbol of how patience and a unified community can overcome a lack of traditional hockey pedigree.

Did You Know?

• The Predators became the first team in NHL history to sweep the Western Conference's top seed (Chicago) and then defeat the second seed (Anaheim) in the same postseason.
• The conference championship was clinched on home ice, marking the first time the Predators won a playoff series at Bridgestone Arena since 2011.
• Defenseman Roman Josi led all playoff defensemen in scoring with 14 points, a key factor in the team's success.
• The Predators' penalty kill was nearly perfect in the conference final, shutting down all 14 Anaheim power plays—a suffocating display that left the Ducks' top scorers helpless.