Game 6 vs Blackhawks 2017

Lore & Background

Game 6 of the 2017 series is more than a game—it's a cornerstone of Predators lore. The Blackhawks, a perennial powerhouse with three Stanley Cups in the previous seven years, were the top seed in the Western Conference. Nashville, the eighth seed, was expected to be a speed bump. Instead, the Predators dismantled Chicago with relentless forechecking, stellar goaltending from Pekka Rinne, and timely scoring from unheralded heroes like Colton Sissons and Viktor Arvidsson.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with a nervous energy as the final seconds ticked down. The Blackhawks, desperate to avoid elimination, had pushed hard, but Rinne stood tall. When the horn sounded, the ice was a sea of gold jerseys as players poured off the bench. The crowd, already deafening, erupted into a roar that seemed to shake the building. For a moment, time stopped: a franchise that had never won a playoff series had just swept the most dominant team of the decade. In the chaos, captain Mike Fisher raised his stick, and the fans answered with a chant that would echo through the postseason: 'We want the Cup!'

Reader's Guide

The occasion was Game 6 of the 2017 Western Conference First Round, with the Predators holding a 3-0 series lead. The Blackhawks, facing elimination, came out strong, but Nashville's depth proved too much. The game was a tight, defensive battle, with both teams trading chances. The turning point came in the third period when Colton Sissons scored the go-ahead goal, his second of the series, to put Nashville ahead 2-1. The Predators held on, with Rinne making several key saves in the final minutes. The win completed the sweep and sent the Blackhawks home in stunning fashion. It is remembered as the moment the Predators shed their underdog label and announced themselves as a force in the NHL. The series also marked the beginning of a bitter rivalry with Chicago, as the Blackhawks would seek revenge in subsequent seasons.

Did You Know?

• This was the first playoff series sweep in Nashville Predators history.
• The series featured a memorable moment when a fan threw a catfish onto the ice, a tradition that began during this playoff run.