Penguins on cusp of history after destroying Predators

Hainsey’s second goal of the playoffs came 16:40 into the period.

Goalie change: Rinne, who endured a rough start to the series but found his rhythm the prior two games, was pulled for Juuse Saros to start the second period.

The absence of Ryan Ellis has added injury to an insulting night for the Predators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Penguins. Without the puck luck of the first two games, the Pens have slowed. It was 3-0 after 20 minutes, but it got much, much worse.

Expect a big game from captain Sidney Crosby and leading goal scorer Jake Guentzel. Phil Kessel scored not long after that. As the bench stood and yelled at the referee, Crosby threw a water bottle onto the ice. The series is tied 2-2. When Ottawa refused to go quietly in Game 6, the series went to a Game 7.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 08: Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals skates against Chad Ruhwedel #2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Evgeni Malkin has been quieted by Nashville’s blue line in recent action.

When the Stanley Cup Final began, it appeared rather lopsided.

Saros stopped 12 of the 15 shots he faced. But at home, Murray has a 1.33 goals against average, including a shutout in Game 5. Gaudreau spent three years with the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate in Milwaukee before he finally earned a call-up this season, picking up an assist in nine appearances. He allowed five and four goals, respectively, in Game 3 and Game 4 in Nashville. Granted, they’re less likely to outshoot the Predators than the Senators.

Both players were penalized two minutes for holding, and it led to a four-on-four that saw Evgeni Malkin fire a one-timer for a 3-0 lead with 11 seconds left.

It was Malkin’s 10th goal of the playoffs and his postseason-leading 27th point.

Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne was rattled, and Crosby could sense it.

Nashville scored three times in the second period of Game 1 to even things up before losing 5-3.

(Radio.com) The country music industry desperately wants to see the Nashville Predators bring home the Stanley Cup against the Pittsburgh Penguins and that desire has even inspired new music.

“There was a lot to like about that game”, said head coach Mike Sullivan.

Only three games were decided by three goals or more in the Final over the previous five years.

Simply, the Penguins have two chances to repeat; the Predators have one shot at stopping them. Save for a pair of flurries (one at the end of the first period in Game 1, the other at the beginning of the third period in Game 2) Nashville has been every bit Pittsburgh’s equal. Bryan Rust makes it 2-0 at 6:43. It’s his seventh goal of the playoffs. When your owner was one of the greatest players of all-time, said Sullivan of Penguins’ co-owner Mario Lemieux, the input is more than welcomed. While it isn’t, at least mathematically, a must- win game for either club – because the series is tied 2-2, a Game 6 in Nashville on Sunday is guaranteed – the Penguins obviously would prefer not to be playing to keep their season alive when the series returns to Tennessee.