In Nashville, Juuse Saros made 35 saves in a 4-1 win for the Predators over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Tanner Jeannot scored for Nashville.
“We’ve played three really strong teams,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “I just have a lot of respect for the way the guys have dug in and competed and remained focused and ready for the game. [They’ve] met the challenges of each game and also the challenges within each game.”
The Predators improved to 35-21-4.
“I think that’s huge,” Jeannot said. “He’s been playing so well for us. He’s doing everything, really. He’s getting hits, he’s blocking shots. It was just a matter of time for it to go in for him. He’s been getting the chances too, so it’s really nice to see that go in.”
Jake Guentzel was the lone striker for the Penguins.
“I thought we played real well,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “I really liked our energy. I loved our effort. I thought we played the game hard tonight. We didn’t end up on the right side of the score, but I think if we bring that effort, if we bring that commitment, we’re going to win a lot of games.”
Mattias Ekholm staked the Preds to a 1-0 lead.
“I don’t know how many games [Josi] has won for us this year,” Ekholm said. “He keeps proving to everybody that he’s, if not the best defenseman … I would say [he is]. And offensively, he’s been lights-out all year.”
Penguins fell to 36-16-9.
“I thought we played a pretty good game, pretty full 60 minutes,” the Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues said. “This one stings a little bit because I thought we controlled a majority of the play. You’ve kind of got to move past it quickly and take the good from it and move on to the next one.”
Jeannot and Eeli Tolvanen broke a 1-1 tie in the middle frame with two quick goals for a 3-1 lead to the Predators.
“[Saros] has played at a high level in every game he’s played this year,” Hynes said. “It’s nice that he always responds when he does get some time off and he does get rest. It’s the mental part and the physical part. We’re going to need to be able to do that this year.”
Nashville’s Yakov Trenin iced the win with 1:40 left in regulation for the 4-1 final.
Casey DeSmith made 21 saves in the Pens loss.
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