2017 Stanley Cup Final run

Lore & Background

The Predators entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, finishing the regular season with 94 points (41–29–12). They upset the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in a sweep, becoming the second team in NHL history to be the lowest seed in their conference to sweep the top seeded team in the opening round (after the 1993 St. Louis Blues). They then eliminated the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, both in six games. Kevin Fiala and Ryan Johansen sustained serious leg injuries in the second and third rounds respectively and missed the remainder of the playoffs. The Predators became the third team to be the lowest seed in their conference in NHL history to reach the Stanley Cup Final, joining the 2006 Edmonton Oilers and the 2012 Los Angeles Kings.

Reader's Guide

The Predators tied the series at two games apiece with convincing home wins in Games 3 and 4, but Penguins goaltender Matt Murray shut them out for the remainder of the series. This was the first time in NHL history that two United States–born head coaches faced off against each other in the Stanley Cup Final.

Did You Know?

• The Predators were the first major professional sports team from Tennessee to play for a championship since the Tennessee Titans made Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
• Head coach Peter Laviolette was the third different franchise he led to the Stanley Cup Final, having won with Carolina in 2006 and also taken Philadelphia to the 2010 Final.
• Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson tied for the team lead in regular-season goals with 31 each.