Game 7 vs Blues 2017

Lore & Background

The 2017 Predators entered the playoffs as a wild card, but quickly shed any underdog label. After dispatching the Chicago Blackhawks in a stunning sweep, they faced a tough Blues team that had won Game 6 to force a decisive seventh game. The atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena was electric, with fans known for their deafening chants and yellow towel waves. The game itself was a masterclass in clutch performance, with Colton Sissons scoring a hat trick, including an empty-netter, to seal the win. Pekka Rinne stood tall in net, making key saves to keep the Blues at bay. This victory not only advanced the Predators but also signaled that Nashville had arrived as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with tension as the puck dropped. Every shift felt like a battle, the ice chipped from desperate strides. Colton Sissons, a third-line forward, became an unlikely hero, his first goal silencing the Blues' bench. The crowd erupted with each tally, the noise a physical force. When the final horn sounded, the players mobbed Rinne, their goalie a wall of calm amidst the storm. Outside, the streets of Nashville filled with honking cars and jubilant fans, the city united in celebration.

Reader's Guide

The occasion was Game 7 of the 2017 Western Conference Second Round, a winner-take-all matchup between the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. The Predators had just swept the Blackhawks, while the Blues had pushed them to the brink. The game started tense, with both teams trading chances. Colton Sissons opened the scoring in the first period, but the Blues answered back. In the second, Sissons struck again, and Roman Josi added a power-play goal. The Blues made it 3-2 in the third, but Sissons completed his hat trick with an empty-netter. The 4-2 win sent Nashville to the Western Conference Final for the first time. It is remembered for Sissons' heroics, Rinne's goaltending, and the deafening crowd that willed the team to victory. This game proved the Predators could win under pressure and remains a high point in franchise lore.

Did You Know?

• Colton Sissons' hat trick was the first by a Predator in a Game 7.
• The game drew the highest TV rating for a Predators broadcast in Nashville at the time.
• Pekka Rinne made 36 saves in the win.
• The victory set up a Conference Final matchup against the Anaheim Ducks.