After securing the first Stanley Cup finals appearance in franchise history, the Nashville Predators had three full days to sit and wait before learning who their opponent would be. Though that was enough time to game-plan for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators, the degree of difficulty was likely raised when the defending Stanley Cup champions punched their ticket with a 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 7 Thursday night.
"You're a champion until somebody knocks you out," said one NHL scout. "So I'm going with Muhammad Ali until someone knocks him out.