Penguins rout Predators 6-0 to take 3-2 Cup lead

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators meet Sunday in game six of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bridgestone Arena. Kessel added two assists, Malkin and Hainsey one each. When limited to one goal during the 2016 postseason, they won the following game. “Go back into Pittsburgh and look to win another game”. Sheary took a pretty feed from Crosby and sent it by Saros 1:19 into the second to push Pittsburgh’s lead to four.

As for Game 5, it may well be remembered as the game that Crosby won on his very first shift. He’s the least experienced player on the Predators’ playoff roster with 15 total National Hockey League games, which explains his modest accommodations during practices and morning skates. Of those seven periods, he’s allowed three goals in three of them. He responded by saying that they just lost a game, and that wasn’t what he was thinking about right now. Then there’s the attraction of the Penguins looking to become the first team to repeat as Cup champions since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. They “got to their game” (another of Sullivan’s favorite mantras) repeatedly in Game 4 only to lose. That allows Laviolette to use his top defense pairings more in faceoff situations to better counter the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Regardless, the Predators will be a formidable foe on friendly ice, especially now that they’re in win-or-else mode.

That, more broadly, is how Murray describes his ability to cooly handle the spotlight – “just worry about doing my job and trying to give the team the best chance to win”. Letang can score (he had the game-winning goal in last year’s Stanley Cup clincher, just to drop in here), and he elevates the play of everyone on the ice with him, namely, Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray, left, stops a point-blank shot by Nashville Predators’ Craig Smith during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. Expect Rinne to be back in net for Game 6 in Nashville. They will also stream the game on mobile devices via the NBC Sports app, which can be downloaded via the Apple App Store, and the Google Play Store.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Pittsburgh. For Game 1, Pittsburgh is a -165 moneyline favorite against the +145 underdog Predators with a 5.5-goal total.

“I see those numbers and if the number is not 100 percent or guaranteed it doesn’t matter to me”, joked Penguins forward Bryan Rust“. The goal came after he was held without a shot for only the fifth time in his career in the playoffs.

“I think a lot of his character-building and things come from that defeat and driving their team to be better every single night when he’s out there”, Kunitz said.

The Predators offence is missing a few joints.

It didn’t help the Predators in the opening minutes as the Penguins controlled the play and drew the penalty.

With the Stanley Cup Final tied at 2 and up for grabs, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators are two victories away from hoisting the Stanley Cup. There will be another three days before Game 6 back at Nashville and then, if necessary, another three days until Game 7 at Pittsburgh on June 14.

Bonino took a shot from Nashville’s P.K. Subban during Game 2. He skated on Thursday and will be a game-time decision, but how effective will he be?

Pittsburgh, however, was problematic in the first two games of this series.

On the ensuing power play, Crosby set up Schultz for a slap shot that went under Rinne’s pads for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead 1:31 into the first. I know I’m repeating myself here, but their 24 shots in Game 4 is their most in any game of the series.

After back-to-back losses, Murray is 5-0 with a 1.77 goals-against average and.939 save percentage. He posted a.920 save percentage in that series and a.923 save percentage in 21 playoff games last season.

“Obviously when you win the chain, it’s recognition from your teammates you contributed and you had a solid night”, Irwin said.

Coach Peter Laviolette said he’s had to balance the desire to have Wilson in the lineup with the need to make sure he was healthy enough to impact the game.

“But I think as a team we have to feel confident playing at home, having that opportunity to play Game 6 at home”.

That comes to mind when talking to Barry Trotz, the Washington Capitals head coach who prior to his current gig had spent 15 long years coaching the Nashville Predators.

The downs and ups of the Predators goalie have been the dominant storyline throughout the Cup Final. The coach who has made “play the right way” part of the franchise’s lexicon is more focused on the process. Wilson missed the first four games of the series with an unspecified lower-body injury. The 24-year-old is an undrafted free agent and doesn’t even have a team locker.