Five saddest moments from Predators' collapse in Game 7

In a perfect hockey world, Game 7 of a playoff series would be an exciting battle between two evenly-matched teams playing their best games.

But it's not a perfect world. And the Nashville Predators, for all their gumption and odds-defying play throughout the postseason, did not have their best game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. The home-team Sharks pummeled the listless Predators 5-0. No one in Nashville will want to relive the game, least of all goaltender Pekka Rinne. He played well in net despite the numbers (five goals allowed on 26 shots) but couldn't make up for the sloppy play of the team in front of him and the five sad moments it led to.

1. When Rinne pushed Joe Pavelski down and then he got right back up and scored the game's first goal.

2. When elder statesman Joel Ward casually went around Roman Josi and wandered into the Predators zone unopposed to make it 2-0 San Jose.

3. When Shea Weber turned this puck over and Logan Couture sniped it past Rinne to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead.

4. When Rinne was finally pulled because it was 5-0 and he wasn't happy about it.

5. And, ultimately, the handshake line, where he undoubtedly stewed over how little support he got in a solid showing between the pipes.​

Still, it was a landmark year for the Predators, who advanced further into the playoffs than they ever had before. Better luck next year, Pekka!