Nashville leaning heavily on defense corps against Penguins

Nashville has an 8-1 home-ice record in the postseason, and they should find a way to hold on and make it 9-1 by the time the game is over. He asked them before the game not to throw anything onto the ice. Discipline has been a problem for the Preds at times in this series, but if Pittsburgh can not find a way to take advantage of added opportunities, the Pens may very well find themselves back in Steel City with a Final lead up for grabs. This could be looked back as a turning point to give the Preds confidence, or if the Pens can rally with a better effort at home, largely forgotten.

Opportunity Knocks: It wasn’t much of a secret that Nashville outplayed Pittsburgh for much of games 1 and 2, but the Penguins were the far more opportunistic team as they capitalized on their chances (usually in quick succession).

Although lines are expected to be the same, Colin Wilson was skating in practice today.

Except for that one breakaway, he added.

Coming into the finals Pekka Rinne and Matt Murray both had spectacular numbers, but Rinne seemly had lost his game in the first two of the final, while Murray has stayed solid for the Penguins. The Penguins needed him to perform, and he could not in an incredibly important game. Then he gave up five goals in the span of 15 shots and the catfish watch was on. “There’s no doubt that we believe they will continue that”. Call it traffic, net front presence, whatever… but bodies in front of Murray = More goals. Malkin hasn’t gone two games without a shot in the same postseason since his rookie year, while Washington did it to Crosby April 29 and May 1.

The 7th Man – I don’t know if there has ever been so strong a symbiotic relationship between a fanbase and the team as there is in Smashville.

In 1,487 career National Hockey League contests he amassed 2,857 points, five of which came in his only game in Nashville.

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Predators are favored at home tonight, as they are getting odds of -155 to win. They got out to an early start with Jake Guentzel’s 13th goal these playoffs.

“This time of year, it’s about results”, winger Bryan Rust said. Bite two may come tonight…

From a walking boot and crutches to a hockey skate and stick. “He was terrific. I said that after Game 2”. “We’ve got capable people”.

– A Bridgestone Arena, Game Five viewing party is planned for Thursday night.

Ahead of the all-day celebrations in downtown, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry declared Monday as “Preds Pride Day” and also announced Fifth Avenue South would be known as Predators Way for the month of June.

While Malkin may be in the favorite to earn MVP honors and Guentzel is a scoring machine, Crosby will be the dynamic force who brings the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh, and he will come away with the Conn Smythe Trophy at the conclusion of the series. “He’s a very good player, so when he’s in our lineup, he plays in a lot of key situations”. Neither Crosby nor Evgeni Malkin had a shot on goal in Game 3 for the first time in the 143 Stanley Cup playoff games they’ve appeared in together. The Stanley Cup Finals are finally here. Radio on 102.5 the Game.