Nashville, Winnipeg each to rely on superb goalie in Game 7

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Predators goalie Pekka Rinne has years of postseason experience, including a couple of Game 7s and a Stanley Cup Final.

Connor Hellebuyck has Winnipeg on the verge of their first Western Conference final in his first playoff appearance, and the best comparison the Jets goalie can make to looming Game 7 in Nashville is winning two Hockey East tournament championships in college with UMass-Lowell.

"I have yet to be scored on in one [of those], so I like those odds," Hellebuyck said. "This has nothing to do with that. This is whole new level and you've just got to get into the game as much as you can."

Nobody has reflected the roller-coaster ride of this thrilling Western Conference semifinal series between the NHL's top two teams in the regular season more than their Vezina Trophy finalists. Rinne has been pulled from two games — both in Nashville — before staving off elimination in Game 6 with his second shutout this postseason.

"When you think about Game 7, as a team, as an individual, you're just going to give it all and do your best and do it as a team and trust your teammates," Rinne said Wednesday.

Hellebuyck's stats include a 2-1 record in Nashville in this series, which will end Thursday night. Hellebuyck gave up three goals in a 4-0 home loss Monday night, turning this into a winner-take-all game for the right to play Vegas in the conference final.

"We know it's all on the line, and nothing in the past is going to bother us," Hellebuyck said. "We can't let it. This is going to be the most fun game we're going to play, and I think a lot of us are going to enjoy ourselves."

Nashville finished only three points (117) ahead of Winnipeg (114) for the Presidents' Trophy, and this series has been about as close as possible. The Jets have more goals (22-18), while Nashville has more shots on goal (217-213).

Nashville's line of Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson combined for eight points in keeping the Predators alive with a 4-0 win in Game 6. Winnipeg's top line of Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele had eight points in Game 5.

"It's the final game for one team," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "So, there's lot of emotion, lots of excitement. But there's definitely a calmness to it. There's a finality coming. It brings out the best, I think."

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