Predators clinch spot in Cup finals
For the first time in franchise history, the Nashville Predators are in the Stanley Cup Finals. They beat the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 in Game 6 to win the Western Conference finals series 4-2.
Colton Sissons scored his third goal with 6 minutes remaining, ensuring the Predators’ magical postseason now includes the franchise’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Final after eliminating the Ducks with a 6-3 win in Game 6 on Monday night in Nashville, Tenn.
The Predators, who’ve 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 the Blackhawks, downed the Blues in six in the second round and then the Pacific Division champ in six games. 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 Penguins or Senators for the Stanley Cup. Game 1 is Monday.
The Ducks lost in the conference finals for the second time in three years.
Cam Fowler tied it up at 3-3 at 8:52 of the third 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 4-3 three minutes later.
Austin Watson scored on Nashville’s the Predators’ 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.