Penguins melt Predators, pull ahead in Finals series

After combining for zero points in Games 3 and 4, Malkin had a goal and an assist and Kessel a goal and two assists.

The Penguins are coming off a 6-0 rout of the Predators in Game 5 on Thursday and won the Cup a year ago on the road against the San Jose Sharks with a 3-1 victory in Game 6.

Justin Schultz, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel and Ron Hainsey were on target, while goalie Matt Murray made 24 saves.

After two straight losses in Nashville, Pittsburgh blitzed the Predators with three goals in the first period to chase goaltender Pekka Rinne. Backup Juuse Saros didn't do much better, and ended up allowing three more in relief. "It makes for great play, not great games", said the National Hockey League network commentator.

The live bands in the lower Broadway bars have had to work their sets around game action, and Predators' goals have been met with enormous cheers roaring through the city's main commercial thoroughfare from fans watching on big screens.

There were a few notable plays in Game 5, which was probably the most exciting part of a game that over a minute into the second period. "They doing all the little things, I think, that don't necessarily show up on the score sheet, or you can't necessarily quantify in a statistic, but those little things add up to helping a team win games". "That's why he's such a great leader: because he drives guys around him to be better and makes everybody want to push just as hard as he does". I think we can learn from that ... it's impossible not to think about.

The Penguins - who set a club record with their 10th home win of the playoffs - scored three times in the first period and another three in the second.

The Predators face elimination for the first time this postseason Sunday at Bridgestone Arena, where they have won 13 of their past 14 playoff games. He stuck with Murray, reunited Sheary with Crosby and Jake Guentzel, and stressed his team needed to play with urgency but not desperation after the Predators rallied to tie the series by outscoring the Penguins 9-2 during two wins in Nashville. Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette and players pause at the bench during the third period in Game 5 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. Th.

To view PDF documents, Download Acrobat Reader. He's a scorer, a pure sniper who can run hot and cold, but who has the ability to change the game with just one shot. No unsportsmanlike penalty was called and Kessel's goal stood. Yet becoming the franchise's all-time leader in points during this Stanley Cup Final (surpassing his boss, Mario Lemieux) captures only a slice of the brilliance and brawn (yes, really) that pushed Pittsburgh to the verge of a fifth title.

The first-minute penalty and double-five-hole goal.

"It wasn't good", Laviolette said of the Predators' start. They watched on TV as Malkin's wrist shot with 10 seconds left in the first gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 edge it never came close to giving up. On Thursday night, the chirps between the two advanced to physicality when they got tangled behind the goal line, and Crosby pushed Subban's head into the ice several times. "It's about going back and forth". He also isn't anxious about the Penguins getting overconfident with a chance to win the Stanley Cup on Sunday night. Near the end of the first period, Crosby got mixed up behind the net with Subban. "I think Sid really understands the opportunity that this team has and he's not taking anything for granted". Nashville's reputed defensemen, with help from some big home-ice starts for Pekka Rinne, have successfully thwarted Pittsburgh's rash of offensive talent on more than one occasion.

Crosby grabbed a pass with speed and then slashed through the gap between Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi before firing a shot off the left post. It's also no secret that Rinne has been a different goalie at home versus on the road. He attempted to extract himself but couldn't, then unleashed a torrent of punches at Subban's head.

"He told me my breath smelled, but I don't know", Subban said.

The Penguins lead the series 3-2.