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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 John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Predators fall to the brink of elimination

This marks the worst performance by the Predators of the entire playoffs. Even worse than the Game 3 meltdown. At least in that game the Predators had flashes of dominance and let it slip away. This is a no-show from start to finish. No aggression or desperation for the moment.

Again, you have to give the Jets a ton of credit. They respond to adversity just as well as the Predators do. These two teams are so similar, which is why this is becoming such a memorable series.

Check out Subban’s guarantee after the Game 5 loss, per Brook Bratten:

It’s an uplifting guarantee, but still gut-wrenching to suddenly be useless in your home building. A place that’s always been tough for other team to win in. This is also by far Rinne’s rock bottom moment of the playoffs. You can defend him for some of the losses, but this one is largely on his shoulders. Six goals allowed on just 26 shots. The Juuse Saros pushers end up coming out again, which is ridiculous. The Predators need yet another must-win game, on the road in Canada.

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