2018 Stanley Cup playoffs: May 10 open thread

The NHL’s two best regular-season teams will play Game 7 of their second-round series Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

It’s the first Game 7 in franchise history for the Winnipeg Jets, and the third for the Nashville Predators. It’ll also be the first Game 7 the Predators will play at home.

Nashville went 1-1 in 2016 in Game 7s. It outlasted the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 then were shut out 5-0 by the San Jose Sharks.

Pekka Rinne made 34 saves in a 4-0 shutout win over the Jets in Game 6 for his fifth career playoff shutout, while Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg each scored two goals. The win didn’t come without a cost as center Mike Fisher left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. He didn’t practice Wednesday.

Winnipeg is led by center Mark Scheifele who has nine goals and 14 points in 11 playoff games. He has six multiple-point games this postseason and his nine goals lead the playoffs among active players.

If the Jets win, the Chicago Blackhawks will receive the No. 27 overall pick in next month’s draft as compensation for the Ryan Hartman-Victor Ejdsell trade. Nashville’s first- and fourth-round picks in the trade are based on the Predators’ finish.

The series winner will host Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Final against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.

How to watch Thursday’s game:

SB Nation sites to follow on Twitter:

Winnipeg (@arcticicehockey) at Nashville (@ontheforecheck)