NHL: Predators even things up at Stanley Cup

After a relatively tight first period-with Nashville scoring first, upheld by replay review, and Sidney Crosby answering with Pittsburgh’s only goal of the night to tie things up nearly scarcely a minute later-things burst open in the second. His finesse on a breakaway allowed the Penguins to match a goal the Predators had scored 66 seconds earlier, and the teams went to the first intermission even at 1-1. “Personally, too, I mean, it’s a game of confidence being a goalie”. We’ve shown that’s how we are going to score goals – getting pucks and people there.

Yes, the Nashville Predators lean on their defensemen not only to smother the NHL’s best attackers, but also to score in bunches. Game 6 against the Washington Capitals, Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators, and Game 3 against the Nashville Predators are a few examples. “To give them the opportunity on the power play, my feeling or at least my observation coaching these guys, is when they have success on the power play, it helps their overall game, their 5-on-5 game as well”. The Preds matched that, but later traded him for P.K. Subban. Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist Saturday night for 10 points, making Nashville the third team in National Hockey League history with four defensemen to reach double-digits in the same postseason, along with the 1984 Edmonton Oilers and 1993 Los Angeles Kings.

Sidney Crosby entered Game 4 with seven goals in the playoffs but none since Game 5 against the Ottawa Senators. “You’ve got to trust all those habits, that all those things that you preach all year come through when you need them the most”. “… They’re taught so much today in the game on the defensive side of the puck”.

Sixty-six seconds later, the Predators’ lead was gone. It was his first goal in the Final since 2009, but it wasn’t almost enough.

It was Crosby’s first goal in the Final since June 4, 2009, in Game 4 against Detroit – a span of 12 straight games.

The changes ahead of Game 4 were announced Monday morning by Mayor Megan Barry at a news conference during which she also named injured Predators center Ryan Johansen honorary mayor for the day, proclaimed Monday “Preds Pride Day” and said Fifth Avenue, which runs along Bridgestone Arena, will be known as Predators Way for the rest of June. He got split up from playing with Phil Kessel and managed just two shots. Game 5 may just end like Game 4 did if the teams play the same way, but that will be a fresh contest. “You got to hit the net, so let’s start there”.

If the Predators didn’t have that focus at the start of their morning skate, they plan to have it in time for opening faceoff. It will or it won’t but we’ll see on Thursday how they can approach it and hopefully keep digging and see what happens next time out. “But it just crossed the goal line”, he said. Timely goals, composed. You know, he definitely belongs.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said Crosby and Malkin simply command a lot of attention, and he doesn’t want to interfere with their instincts on when to pass or shoot. There’s no question we have to, as the center group, be even better. “I thought I made a good play on it”. The Predators are 8-1 at home in the playoffs and Bridgestone Arena has been the loudest, wildest facility by far. Matt Murray (22 saves) had stopped Craig Smith’s initial deflection of Austin Watson’s shot, but Jarnkrok’s follow gave him five points – one goal and four assists – in the past five games.