Sissons’ hat trick leads Predators to Stanley Cup Final for 1st time
NASHVILLE — Colton Sissons scored his third goal with 6:00 left, ensuring the Nashville Predators’ magical post-season now includes the franchise’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final after eliminating the Anaheim Ducks with a 6-3 win in Game 6 on Monday night.
The Predators, who have never won even a division title in their 19-year history, came in with the fewest points of any team in these playoffs. Now they’ve swept the West’s No. 1 seed in Chicago, downed St. Louis in six games in the second round and then the Pacific Division champ in six.
Peter Laviolette became the fourth coach to take three different teams to the Final, and the first since the playoffs split into conference play in 1994.
“It feels so good,” Sissons said. “Listen to this crowd. Our fans are amazing, a great group of guys. We just believe in ourselves. That’s all it is.”
The Predators will play either the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins or the Ottawa Senators for the Stanley Cup. Game 1 is Monday.
Anaheim lost in the conference final for the second time in three years.
Cam Fowler tied it up at 3-3 at 8:52 of the third for Anaheim, as the Ducks tried to rally for the fifth time this season when trailing by multiple goals.
But Sissons, who scored on the third shot of the game, scored twice in a wild third period to give the Predators a 3-2 lead at 3:00 and then a 4-3 lead three minutes later.
Austin Watson scored on Nashville’s first shot and had an empty-netter with 1:34 to go. Filip Forsberg also had an empty-net goal. Pekka Rinne made 38 saves to improve to 12-4. Ondrej Kase and Chris Wagner also scored for Anaheim, with Jonathan Bernier taking the loss.