Catfish watch is on for Game 2 of Cup Final

Nashville Predators’ goalie Pekka Rinne has struggled through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final, allowing eight goals on 36 shots.

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored three goals in the third period to defeat the National Predators 4-1 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night. The three-goal explosion from the highest scoring team in hockey during the regular season – occurring in three minutes and 28 seconds – mirrored the first period in Game 1 when the Penguins busted out for three in less than five minutes.

Jake Guentzel has scored his second goal of the night to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead early in the third period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Nashville.

The Penguins said they’d take more shots on goal than the 12 they took in Game 1, and they made good on that with 12 shots in the first period Wednesday.

Rinne has been described by his teammates throughout the postseason as Nashville’s best player and MVP, but the Penguins have put the pressure squarely on the 34-year-old Finn’s shoulders.

The Penguins have been outshot in each game and converted only one power play opportunity but their ability to turn some brief defensive lapses into quick goals has allowed them to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Our power play has found a way to get a goal and we’ve had guys step up at key moments. Just how long the series lasts will likely depend on whether he can regain his previous form before game three Saturday 7 p.m. Rinne was chased from the Nashville net, and Pittsburgh took Game 2 by a 4-1 final.

“It’s not his fault by any means”, Nashville captain Mike Fisher said of the goals allowed in Pittsburgh.

A lot had been made about Nashville’s great top four defenders going into the Final.

The Predators aren’t of this series yet, but they sure need more from their aces, Subban, Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and Roman Josi.

“Right away, the focus shifts to we don’t lose in our building”, Subban said.

Rinne entered the Final as the best goaltender, statistically speaking, with a.947 save percentage in the playoffs. They know how to win.

“I tried putting it in my boot, but … the head was too damn big”, he said. “I’ve played a long time, and the first time having a chance to play for the Cup, so I just think you have to bury these two games and move ahead, and just find a way to find some success”.

It hasn’t been easy against Pittsburgh.

The series continues in Nashville for Games 3 and 4. It has advanced with victories in the deciding games of each of the last two series.

The feel-good story of the 2017 National Hockey League playoffs has been the Predators, with goaltender Pekka Rinne as the backbone for their run from No. 8 seed in the West to the Stanley Cup Final.

Peter Laviolette refuses to discuss questions about his lineups, but did offer this on his star goalie late Wednesday night, “Pekka has been terrific through this entire playoffs”. Nashville’s Pontus Aberg and Guentzel scored in the first for a 1-1 tie that carried into the third. Malkin has nine goals and leads the playoffs in points with 26.

Then, just over three minutes later, the Predators had their second own-goal in as many games, when Vernon Fiddler’s skate knocked a bouncing puck through Rinne’s five-hole - the goal officially goes to Scott Wilson, but equal credit should go to Phil Kessel, who earned the assist for sneaking the puck into a unsafe position. Seconds after an own goal off the left skate of Nashville’s Vern Fiddler that was credited to Scott Wilson, Evgeni Malkin beat Rinne to give Pittsburgh a three-goal lead.

Once inside PPG Paints Arena, Waddell went to a restroom to remove the fish from his trousers, the complaint said. “It’s not his fault by any means”. Yes, they have been the better team.