The Nashville Predators are heading to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history in no small part thanks to the efforts of a scrappy player from North Vancouver named Colton Sissons.
The 23-year-old centre scored a hat trick in the Predators’ game six victory over the Anaheim Ducks Monday that ended in a 6-3 win for the Preds, who took the series four games to two.
“It feels good, man,” Sissons told NHL.com. “I’m not going to lie. Obviously I don’t think I even dreamt this moment, scoring a hat trick in a Western Conference clinching game. I can’t speak enough for just our whole group. We’ve been through some challenges together and we stuck together no matter what. We believed and here we are.”
Sissons got his first goal almost nine minutes into the first period after capitalizing on an Anaheim turnover. Three minutes into the third Sissons gave the Predators a 3-1 lead after scoring on a rebound. He scored the game winner giving the Preds a 4-3 lead with six minutes left to play in the third period after nailing a one-timer from the left faceoff circle.
Sissons has taken on a larger role in the Predators’ lineup these playoffs due to injuries plaguing forwards Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher. Sissons played in 58 regular season games for the Predators this season, finishing with eight goals and two assists.
His performance in the playoffs so far, however, has been remarkable, having banked five goals and five assists over 16 games.
“It’s been a wild ride, but it feels good and I’m just enjoying it,” Sissons said.
The Predators will square off against defending champions the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the Stanley Cup finals Monday, May 29.
