Predators on brink as Rinne struggles in Pitt

The night started with a catfish throw.

Hainsey turned Nashville's James Neal inside out in Pittsburgh's end after the former Penguin whiffed on a big-hit attempt, then headed up ice and eventually finished off a feed from Malkin for a 6-0 lead at 16:40 of the second.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will stick with Matt Murray for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby carved through the Predators' defense with an ease that should be unfair, assisting on half of his team's goals. "We've proven that we can and we have in the past, and there's a lot of confidence that we will in a couple days". Sure enough, Crosby got the assist.

Predators Coach Peter Laviolette was unhappy that both players received holding penalties. The Pens' star players didn't hesitate to get physical, either.

Game 6 is Sunday night in Nashville.

They got goals from Justin Schultz, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel and Ron Hainsey.

So, the fact that Crosby once again showed up and played arguably his best game of the playoffs on Thursday wasn't necessarily the story in a 6-0 Game 5. But there's still at least one more chance for the teams to provide a one-goal game or maybe even some overtime, which had been on pace to break the all-time record for a single postseason through three rounds. Whether or not it happens, I don't know.

It was as bad a start as you could have expected. Our guys have a tremendous amount of confidence in him.

It took all of 91 seconds for Pittsburgh to get its swagger back.

"We know we're no Kris Letangs back here", Schultz said.

Often players have the advantage of getting away with all the dirty tactics they use in the game.

"I know that Matt's excited to play tonight and he certainly has had success here at home and we're hoping that we have our best game in front of him", Sullivan said. The two-time MVP ended up on top of a stickless Subban and attempted to get up only to have Subban refuse to let go of Crosby's right leg.

Now, Rinne and the Predators, facing elimination for the first time in the playoffs, will have to win at home on Sunday to extend the series.

Malkin ripped a wrist shot over Rinne's glove on the ensuing 4-on-4 to make it 3-0 with just 10 seconds left in the first. He gave up three goals overall.

Just like that, Crosby may have shifted the momentum of a series that had appeared to be rolling in Nashville's favor.

Saros hardly fared any better.

But Malkin and Kessel couldn't steal the spotlight from Crosby.

Phil Kessel, Penguins - Kessel returned to form with a goal and two assists. However, because the Penguins qualified for the 2016 postseason, the one that kicked in reads as such (according to Sportsnet): If Pittsburgh qualifies for the 2016 post-season, Toronto will receive the Penguins' 2016 first-round draft pick; and the Penguins will receive Toronto's 2016 second-round selection.

The Predators are 9-1 at home in the playoffs, a place they will need to be a haven once again if they want to extend their improbable Cup run back to Pittsburgh.

"The real hockey starts now", Subban said.

Rocked himself in the two Penguin losses, Murray bounced back with a sharp performance as did Malkin and Kessel. The team that has won Game 5 in a 2-2 series has gone on to win the Cup 71 percent (17 of 24) of the time since 1939. By the time the final buzzer went off, the teams had combined for 100 PIM. That tied him with Dino Ciccarelli (Minnesota North Stars, 1981) and Ville Leino (Philadelphia Flyers, 2010) for the most points by a rookie in an National Hockey League playoff season. Pittsburgh C Nick Bonino missed his third straight game. Nashville F Colin Wilson made his series debut after missing the first four games with an undisclosed injury.