Nashville Predators Tie Up Series 3-3 – Force Game 7

Pekka Rinne knew he had to be at the top of his game last night going into Game 6, if not elimination could be the result. Making 34 saves and earning his 2nd shutout in the playoffs helped the Predators be victorious last night as they defeated the Jets 4-0 to tie the series 3-3.

The series now returns to Nashville for Game 7. The winner will then take on the Vegas Golden Knights, who won their series against the Sharks in 6 games, for the Western Conference final.

Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals, one of which was on an empty net and Ryan Johansen Roman Josi each earned two assists.The series has gone back and forth without either team gaining a stronghold that would give them an advantage. The Predators got up on goal in just over the first minute of the first period what was challenged but overruled.

Filip Forsberg made it 2-0 at 8:44 in the second period after rushing the net on his own to earn his sixth goal of the postseason. Forsberg had just retrieved a new stick from the bench after breaking his broke blocking a shot and picked up the puck to score on Hellebuyck.

The second period saw Winnipeg try to regain their footing but seemed sluggish from the start with Nashville pushing hard and outskating the Jets.

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Paul Stastny sent a shot wide and missed a wide shot that was deflected by Pekka Rinne. A shot by Mathieu Perreault missed the net but hit the linesman. Adam Lowry attempted to get the puck past the pads of Rinne but failed to get the job done.

As the third period got underway, the Jets found themselves in yet another power play, the fourth of the night but missed the opportunity to make a difference, as they had in the previous three. A shot fired by Scheifele went wide.

The puck was picked up by Forsberg who sent it between his legs to snap it past Hellebuyck on a shorthanded goal and making it 3-0 for the Predators. Viktor Arvidsson earned his second of the net after Hellebuyck left the net as the third period wound down.

The Jets were disappointed by last night’s results and will now head back to Nashville for Game 7. The one advantage they have is they have won twice while playing in the series in Music City; the first was Game 4 and the second Game 5.

Winnipeg looked like a different team last night. Maybe it was the pressure of being at home and fans expectations of a win, or simply they were tired. It almost seemed like defeat was in the cards after the first goal by Nashville only 62 seconds into the first.

The Jets seemed poised to move on to the third round, an achievement the franchise has yet to achieve, but after last night’s performance, it leaves one wondering if they will come out victorious in Game 7. One thing that is for certain, if they play like they did last night, it will be the Predators moving on and the Jets clearing out their locker room.