Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators clung to a small lead for two full periods on Wednesday, scrambling and dodging and stopping everything the Anaheim Ducks could throw at them.

The Preds hung on until the final horn, emerging triumphant from their first Game 7 and opening a new chapter in franchise history with a 2-1 victory on the road.

Rinne made 36 saves while Colin Wilson and Paul Gaustad scored in the first period as the wild-card Predators advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.