Bubble Semifinal Clincher vs Montreal Canadiens (2020)
From the brink of elimination to the Final: The Predators' miraculous bubble comeback against Montreal.
The Nashville Predators' 2020 Bubble Semifinal clincher against the Montreal Canadiens stands as a defining moment in franchise history, marking their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Played during the surreal NHL restart at the sterile, echoing confines of Rogers Place in Edmonton, this series showcased the resilience of the 'Preds' after climbing out of a 3-1 grave to force a Game 7. It was not just a victory over a storied Original Six rival but the payoff of years spent building a competitive core around the ageless Pekka Rinne and the dynamic Filip Forsberg.
Quick Facts
- Series outcome
- Nashville Predators won 4-3
- Clinching game result
- Predators 2, Canadiens 1 (OT)
- Key goal scorer
- Ryan O'Reilly (Game-Winning OT Goal)
- Starting goalie
- Pekka Rinne
- Venue
- Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
- Historical significance
- First Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history
Lore & Background
The narrative arc of this series is one of sheer grit and improbable survival. After losing Game 6 in a gut-wrenching overtime that pushed them to the brink, the Predators entered Game 7 with their backs pressed flat against the cold steel of elimination. The victory was not just about skill but about a collective refusal to break, proving that Nashville could not only compete but dominate on the biggest stage against a team dripping in hockey history. This triumph validated decades of patience from a fanbase that had watched their team grow from expansion afterthought to legitimate contender, and it cemented the 2019-2020 season as a legendary, if bizarre, chapter in Predators lore.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was Game 7 of the Second Round Stanley Cup Playoffs in September 2020, deep inside the Edmonton bubble. After falling behind 3-1, Nashville clawed back to force this winner-take-all decider at Rogers Place. The game was a tense, grinding defensive battle, with Pekka Rinne making a series of desperate, crucial saves to keep the Predators alive through regulation. In overtime, Ryan O'Reilly—acquired mid-season to provide exactly this kind of clutch scoring—sniped the series-winning goal, sending Nashville to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final. This match is remembered as the greatest comeback in franchise history, transforming a potential early exit into a historic, pandemic-era run. It highlighted the team's ability to perform under suffocating pressure and marked the peak of the Rinne-Forsberg era, a moment frozen in bubble time.
Did You Know?
- Pekka Rinne recorded his 40th career playoff win during this series, solidifying his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
- The victory ended a 22-year drought for the franchise to reach the Western Conference Final, and immediately propelled them to the Cup Final.
- Ryan O'Reilly's overtime winner was the first game-winning goal he scored in Nashville after being acquired mid-season.
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