The Pittsburgh Penguins are a win away from a second straight Stanley Cup success after a 6-0 thrashing of the Nashville Predators. He had played 12 consecutive Stanley Cup Final games without a goal before snapping that drought on a nifty breakaway in the first period.
All eyes are on goaltenders Pekka Rinne and Matt Murray going into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final as the Predators visit the Penguins.
Mattias Ekholm said everything is created to make opponents work hard and fellow defenseman Ryan Ellis noted that the hard work is required of the Predators, too. Yet Penguins coach Mike Sullivan hardly seems frustrated heading into Game 5 on Thursday night back home in Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel were among the six different goal-scorers for the Penguins, who are now one win away from becoming the first repeat Cup victor in nearly 20 years. "We wish him much luck in Game 5 this evening".
"I've been here for two years and I've really been impressed with just about everything about him", said the 40-year-old, Matt Cullen. There is no reason to believe Game 6 will turn out any differently, so follow that betting trend and ride Nashville again. "We're going forward from here". Tim McGraw and/or Faith Hill, one of Nashville's power couples?
Nashville rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the best-of-seven series and the home team has won all five games. Pittsburgh Penguins' Olli Maatta grabs his nose after being hit there by a Nashville Predators' stick during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. There was one thing about the game that was smart for the Predators. Crosby played an incredible game last night-he's been incredible throughout this series-and no one can ever say this version of Crosby, with a little extra agression, a little nastiness, was "boring". Kessel added two assists, Malkin and Hainsey one each.
They got goals from Justin Schultz, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel and Ron Hainsey.
Oddly enough, Game 4 might've been their second best, even though they lost it by three goals.
"Feeling good", Rinne said. "It's a big game". I came here well-prepared, and we didn't have it tonight. Rinne allowed three goals on nine shots.
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Italian authorities said Zaghba had been stopped and questioned in Italy but had not been charged with any crime. Much of the area around London Bridge remained cordoned off as commuters struggled to work in the driving rain.
Rinne, the playoff leader in wins and goals-against average, rebounded in a big way for Games 3 and 4 in Nashville, limiting Pittsburgh to a just two goals on 52 shots as the Predators evened the 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.
On the other side was Nashville, now not only on the verge of elimination, but potentially without top-four defender Ryan Ellis, whose night ended after two shifts in the second period.
Crosby came dangerously close to saying amusing things when he talked about getting tangled with Nashville's P.K. Subban in the first period of Game 5 and appeared to bang Subban's head off the ice - "He was doing some UFC move on my foot" - and about what happened in the second period when it appeared he threw a water bottle onto the ice from the bench - "I made a gesture, and it came flying out of my hand". "I think they understand how these series go and how, from one game to the next, we have to reset the mindset and just be ready to play that game right in front of us".
It was as if after watching the Predators for four games, the Penguins were finally able to finally figure out their opponent's weak spot.
Rinne insisted his confidence isn't shaken though he was disappointed with Thursday's result.
Barkley said the National Hockey League playoffs were more entertaining than the NBA's, and ratings are up considerably from a year ago when the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks in six games. "I think everybody fed off that a bit as far as we were going to be aggressive and go and get it". Crosby and Subban really got into it behind the net, and eventually the referees started to boot guys out. Sidney Crosby played his best game of the playoffs and set his teammates up with attractive chances. Subban dismissed the impromptu wrestling match as "just hockey". There are streets and buildings and places all over Pittsburgh with Lemieux's name on them.
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