The Nashville Predators are in uncharted territory.
After staving off elimination at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 on Monday night, the Predators forced a do-or-die Game 7 - their first in franchise history.
Six players on the current Predators roster have played in a Game 7, but those who haven't are doing their best to prepare.
"The mindset is a little bit different," Predators goalie Pekka Rinne told Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. "Just facing Game 7, you know what it means and what's at stake."
James Neal, one of the few Predators who's already suited up in a winner-take-all series finale, feels his teammates will be ready.
"I think the pressure's been on them the whole series," Neal said. "Everyone's picked them to win. We know what kind of team we have here in Nashville. We did everything all year to push ourselves to this point. Why not win one more game?"
Having already survived one elimination game, head coach Peter Laviolette is taking the same approach that extended the series.
"Our Game 7 is really no different than our Game 6," Laviolette said. "If we didn't win (Monday) we were done. I think we've got that going for us. We've already taken on an elimination game as a young group and found success. ... Our guys will be ready to play."
Nashville has only escaped the first round twice in franchise history, and a win Wednesday night would set up a second-round clash with the San Jose Sharks.
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