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Nashville Predators: How They Got to Game 7 With Winnipeg

By Chad Minton

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 7: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a glove save on Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators during second period action in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 7, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 7: Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a glove save on Craig Smith #15 of the Nashville Predators during second period action in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 7, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Kevin Fiala gets the game-winner

This series has so many turning points, and none are bigger than Kevin Fiala‘s double overtime goal to allow the Predators to avoid disaster. Dropping two at home to fall behind 2-0 in the series probably means we’re not having this conversation. Instead, we’re already thinking about the offseason and trying to answer questions about how it all went wrong.

The play that sets up this goal is pure beauty. Kyle Turris chips it up the wall to Craig Smith, who finds Fiala for the game-winner. It comes over five minutes into the second overtime, and the Predators comes out firing immediately on Hellebuyck. Rinne makes several key saves in the overtime frames to keep the Predators alive.

If the Predators do win a Stanley Cup, we’ll circle this game as one of the turning points. The fork in the road between an early exit and winning it all. The stats are mostly even, but the Jets do put up 50 shots on goal. Even though Rinne gives up four goals, you can chalk this up as a bounce-back game for him. He made critical saves at critical times.

Filip Forsberg has a strong game with three assists, showing he’s more than just a goal scorer. He can facilitate and create offensive chances for his teammates. Time to head to Winnipeg with the series knotted up.

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