The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins enter the 2017 Stanley Cup Final in completely different positions.
Filled with veteran players, the Penguins are striving to become the first team since the Detroit Red Wings to win back-to-back Stanley Cups (1997, 1998). A large portion of the team's roster participated in last year’s final and therefore understand how to deal with the immense pressure. Nashville on the other hand is entering their first championship series in franchise history, and the only player on their roster with any sort of Stanley Cup experience is team captain Mike Fisher. The Canadian went to the big dance with Ottawa in 2007 as a member of the Ottawa Senators, but ultimately lost in five games to the Anaheim Ducks.
22-year-old Preds forward Filip Forsberg surprisingly doesn’t seem very nervous. In fact, he claims to already have a lot of experience playing in huge games… in the virtual world.
Most kids take on the computer in at least one Stanley Cup Final, but to actually participate in one must be a surreal experience.
The Swede will look to carry his video-game like stats into the next series, as he leads his team with 15 points through 16 games.
(H/T r/Hockey)