PITTSBURGH – If the Nashville Predators were feeling nervous heading into their first ever Stanley Cup Final they did not show it. They came out early in the first period strong in the offensive zone and kept the Pittsburgh Penguins chances to a minimum.
Photo By : Brianna O’Mara
The Pens struggled to control the puck early on and could not break out of their zone with any consistency. A strong back-check from the Preds led to a good breakout followed by a bomb from the point by P.K. Subban past Matt Murray. Coach Sullivan took a look at the sequence on the bench and challenged the goal for offsides.
After the goal was disallowed the Penguins started connecting with some nice tape to tape cross ice passes. The breakouts looked cleaner and it generated some good looks. Pens fans had a brief scare when Murray looked shaken up after saving a wrister by Roman Josi. The Pens were able to keep the puck in the offensive zone long enough for Murray to shake it off.
The Predators for their trouble committed twin penalties when Josi and Calle Jarnkrok interfered with Matt Cullen and Patric Hornqvist. Putting one of the leagues best power plays on a 5 on 3 would prove costly when Evgeni Malkin buried a feed from Sidney Crosby. Trevor Daley also helped out on the goal. The Penguins added another a minute later Conor Sheary tickled the twine on a dish from Crosby. Chris Kunitz got a helper as well. Four minutes later Nick Bonino banked one off Cody McCleod proving that Pekka Rinne is human after all.
At the end of one the Penguins only had seven shots and three of them found the net.
The Predators responded in the second period getting on the forecheck and generating a ton of opportunities. Eight minutes into, the period the Predators scored a power play goal when Ryan Ellis, helped out by Subban and Mike Fisher, beat Murray who was screened. The Predators continued to pressure and managed a number of good chances. The Preds out played the Pens through most of the first two periods, yet after two, the Penguins lead 3-1.
The third period began much like the first with the Pens struggling to transition and giving up chances. Halfway through, the Preds would capitalize when Colton Sissons redirected a blast from Josi past Murray for a power play goal. Jarnkrok also got a helper on the tally.
Two minutes later the Pens would get a power play of their own but the Preds killed it off and Frederick Gaudreau scored on an odd man rush. Gaudreau’s goal was assisted by Austin Watson and Fisher. Soon after the Penguins went on the power play and
Photo By : Brianna O’Mara
Jake Geuntzel floated a wrister past Rinne putting the Pens up 4-3 with little time left. Jake’s goal was assisted by Cullen and Justin Schultz. The scoring shot was the first registered by a Penguin in over 37 minutes.
With a minute and a half left, the Predators pulled Rinne for an extra attacker. Nick Bonino added an empty net goal, sealing the game. The Pens could only muster up 12 shots on goal but managed to make the most of them, winning game one 5-3.
Game two will be played Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. Be sure to follow @prohockeynews on Twitter for live in game updates as well as post game analysis.
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