For the first time ever, the Nashville Predators will host a Game 7 when they face the Winnipeg Jets (tonight at 7 p.m. CT).

The Preds rebounded from a 6-2 loss in Game 5 by shutting out the Jets at Bell MTS Place in Game 6, 4-0. Nashville will now play in their third Game 7 in franchise history (both in 2016), but first at home at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Predators held an optional morning skate on Thursday. Forward Mike Fisher was absent from Wednesday's full practice; he is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Matt Irwin left yesterday's practice early, Alexei Emelin filled in on the third pairing after that. 

Below is a Preds projected lineup based on Wednesday's practice: 

There will be a handshake line tonight at Bridgestone Arena, and only one side will advance to the Western Conference Final.

Game 7 between the Predators and Jets comes this evening from Nashville, the first time the team has hosted such a contest in its 20 seasons of existence, and the winner will advance to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the conference final, while the other will see their season come to an end.

Nashville has already been victorious once in a must-win situation in this series, taking Game 6 in Winnipeg by a 4-0 final after suffering a 6-2 defeat in Game 5. The teams with the two best point totals during the 2017-18 regular season, Nashville versus Winnipeg has lived up to the billing, and now the two will face off one more time in a winner-take-all skirmish.

"In Game 7, goals aren't the only thing that will win the game," center Nick Bonino said. "Defense is the biggest factor. If we can defend well, if we can block shots and keep them out of our zone as much as we can, the little things like that will win the game. Hopefully we get a lot of goals, but it might be one or two goals that wins it and we need to find those."

The Predators' season is on the line as they challenge the Jets at Bell MTS Place tonight in Game 6 (at 8:30 p.m. CT). 

Nashville fell 6-2 in Game 5 as Winnipeg took the series lead in the teams' Round Two matchup for the third time. In order to advance, the Predators must replicate a feat they accomplished in Round One in 2016 against the Anaheim Ducks - winning Games 6 and 7 after dropping Game 5 by at least three goals. 

The Preds held a full morning skate on Monday and were joined by Calle Jarnkrok, who has missed three-straight games and last played in Game 2. Harry Zolnierczyk also participated in the session. 

Below is a Predators projected lineup based on Monday's full morning skate: 

The Predators have reached a must-win scenario.

Game 6 between the Preds and Winnipeg Jets comes tonight from Bell MTS Place with Nashville needing a victory to keep their season alive and force a Game 7.

The Predators fell to the Jets by a 6-2 final on Saturday night in Nashville to go down 3-2 in the series and face elimination for the first time in these playoffs. For the Preds, it now simply comes down to erasing the past and blocking out the future - it's all about one game, a game they fully intend on winning.

"Through the years, and certainly through this year and what we've built, I think the confidence and the belief of the guys is to answer that one question again," Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said Sunday. "Can we go there and win one hockey game? Are we good enough to beat the Winnipeg Jets? The answer is yes, we are. Now we've got to go there and do it."

The winner of Game 5 in a series tied 2-2 goes on to win the playoff matchup more than 79 percent of the time. The Predators and Jets find themselves with the chance to play out that scenario in Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena tonight (at 8:30 p.m. CT). 

Nashville won Game 4 by a 2-1 final score to tie their series with Winnipeg. Forward Scott Hartnell and defenseman Yannick Weber entered the Predators' lineup for the first time in the series in the win. The game was Weber's first action since March 24. 

The Preds held a full morning skate and were joined by Calle Jarnkrok and Kevin Fiala. Based on line rushes, it appears Fiala could return to the Nashville lineup tonight. 

Below is a Predators projected lineup based on the session: 

The best-of-seven series has turned into a best-of-three.

With a 2-1 win over Winnipeg in Game 4, the Nashville Predators evened their Round Two series at two games apiece and now return to Bridgestone Arena tonight for Game 5, presented by Ford, with a chance to take their first lead of the series.

The Preds would prefer to limit Winnipeg's chances much like they did in Game 4's victory. It was the first time in the series Nashville held the Jets to less than four goals. Now, the Predators have returned home looking to harness the energy of the 7th Man and head back up to Winnipeg with a chance to advance.

"Our guys, we don't need to talk numbers," Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. "They know how many games are left, they know how many games are at Bridgestone Arena, so there's not a lot of time left in this series to win two hockey games… I know they realize they're valuable opportunities."

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The result of Game 4 will dramatically shift the Round Two series between the Predators and Jets (tonight at 8:30 p.m. CT).

A Predators' win on Thursday night evens the series at 2-2 and turns it into a best-of-three with two of the games at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville is looking to rebound from a loss in Game 3 that saw them take a 3-0 lead in the first period before falling 7-4. On the other hand, a 14th consecutive home win for Winnipeg would give them a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. 

Preds winger Calle Jarnkrok missed Game 3 with what Head Coach Peter Laviolette described as "maintenance." The forward participated in Thursday's full morning skate and could return tonight. 

Below is a Predators projected lineup based on Thursday's skate: 

Just as they did in Game 2, the Nashville Predators are hoping to even their Round Two series once more tonight against the Jets.

Nashville fell to the Jets in Game 3, seeing a three-goal lead in the first period eventually turn into a 7-4 defeat at Bell MTS Place. Now, there is nothing for the Preds to do but simply look ahead to this evening's Game 4 in Winnipeg, a chance to send things back to Nashville even at two games apiece.

"I wouldn't say we're feeling great this morning or anything like that, but we have a great team here," center Ryan Johansen said Wednesday. "We have a smart group of guys that know what needs to be done… We'll do our best to make sure we're ready for tomorrow."

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Game 3 pits the Predators' NHL-best road record against the Jets' top mark at home (tonight at 7 p.m. CT). 

Winger Ryan Hartman entered the Predators lineup for Game 2, a contest Nashville won in double overtime to even their Round Two series with Winnipeg at one game apiece. 

The Predators held a full morning skate on Tuesday at Bell MTS Place with Calle Jarnkrok the only skater absent from the session. Defenseman Yannick Weber remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but was present for the skate. 

Below is a Preds projected lineup based on the session: 

They didn't get both, but the Predators took one at home, and now they'll look to do at least that on the road in Winnipeg as their series with the Jets shifts north for Games 3 and 4.

It was Kevin Fiala who struck in double overtime in Game 2 to give Nashville a 5-4 victory and a 1-1 tie in the Round Two, following up a 4-1 defeat in Game 1. Sunday's contest provided the kind of hockey just about everyone had predicted would transpire in this series - up-and-down, back-and-forth action not for the faint of heart.

Now that one of those outings has happened, the Predators expect more of the same in Manitoba as they face the club with the League's best home record in their own barn. But the Predators owned the NHL's top road record this season, including a dramatic win in Winnipeg at the end of February.

[Read More: Preds Projected Lineup at Jets]

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