Six years ago today an inadvertent whistle broke the collective hearts of Nashville Predators fans and helped end an incredible Stanley Cup run in Nashville.
Six years ago today an inadvertent whistle broke the collective hearts of Nashville Predators fans and helped end an incredible Stanley Cup run in Nashville.
Nails on a chalkboard. The screech of styrofoam coming out of a tight box. A fork scraping across a plate. Dallas fans yelling "Stars" during the National Anthem.
There are some sounds that absolutely set your jaw on edge. But for Nashville Predators fans, the sound that caused the most excruciating reaction on a cellular level was a whistle that blew six years ago today.
The 2017 Stanley Cup run is still talked about with reverence in Nashville. After sneaking into the playoffs as a wildcard team, the Predators swept the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, defeated the Blues in six games in the second round, and ended the Anaheim Ducks run in the Western Conference finals to earn the chance to play the then reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals. The fact that the Preds did all that while losing key players to injury adds to the lore of that postseason run.
There are many warm feelings about the 2017 playoffs, but one sound - one split second sound - is the record scratch to the fond memories the rest of the run inspired.
Kevin Pollock and that damn whistle.
For those who may have blocked it out, here is what went down.
It was game six of the Stanley Cup Finals at Bridgestone Arena. The Penguins were up in the series 3-2 and early in the second period, the game remained scoreless. Pittsburgh committed a turnover in their D zone, and Filip Forsberg ended up with the puck in the circle. Forsberg put a shot on net that slipped between Matt Murray's glove and hip leaving the puck sitting in the front of a wide open net. Colton Sissons dove past Olli Maatta to tap the puck into the net giving the Predators the first goal of the game.
Or not.
Referee Kevin Pollock's position on the ice didn't give him a clear view of the loose puck and he blew his whistle thinking Murray made the save, when clearly he never had possession. That puck sat gloriously free in the light blue ice. After a huddle, the officials confirmed the "no goal" ruling on the ice due to the whistle ending the play. The Penguins went on to score twice in the third period and win the Stanley Cup in Nashville.
The Cup run was magic in Nashville, but that one sound - that split second whistle - still haunts Predators fans six years later. Because let's face it - Sissons scored.
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