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Predators become 1st No. 16 seed to reach Stanley Cup Final

Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today Sports

Adversity doesn't mean a thing to the Nashville Predators.

After a disappointing start to the regular season, and a slew of injuries in the Western Conference Final, the Predators have still managed to make history.

Not only are the Preds off to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the franchise's existence, they're the first team to play for the cup as the No. 16 seed, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Nashville closed out the season with 94 points, tied with Calgary for the lowest total of any team to qualify for the playoffs. Due to regulation and overtime wins, the Preds were slotted at the bottom of the West, and while the NHL doesn't use the traditional one-to-eight conference seeding anymore, it's a wildly impressive feat nonetheless.

Three No. 8 seeds have reached the finals in the salary cap era, most recently the Los Angeles Kings, who won it all in 2012.

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