The first game of the Stanley Cup Finals went to the Penguins. With the Penguins leading 3-1, the Predators tied it up in the third period. However, Pittsburgh managed to score another goal. Nashville tried to tie it up again by pulling their goalie, but the Penguins found the empty net and walked with a 5-3 victory.
Last night was a different story. The Predators and Penguins fought it out and checked one another for two periods in Game 2. Pontus Aberg scored the first goal for Nashville, a crafty shot that he stuck with and never let get away from him, as he faked out goalie Matt Murray.
The third period was a nightmare for the Predators. The Penguins scored 3 goals in under 4 minutes in an ambush of goal tender Pekka Rinne. He was pulled from the game, in favor of Juuse Saros. Nashville seems to have lost their confidence. Here is lowdown of the highs and lows of the Predators’ game and why it seems as if the Tennessee team is now psyched out.
First goal taken away from Predators
In Game One, the Predators found the net first, or so they thought. A challenge from Pittsburgh resulted in a review of the Predators entering the Penguins’ zone. The referees looked at instant replay to see if P.K. Subban’s goal would stand. Was Filip Forsberg’s right skate airborne before he had the puck and crossed the blue line?
The sports announcers felt that the call on the ice should stand, due to lack of conclusive evidence that Forsberg was offsides. Plus, Forsberg was not the guy who even scored the goal. However, the call was overturned and Nashville’s goal was canceled out. That seemed to shift the momentum to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh scored two goals after.
Even though Nashville tied the game, the no goal seemed to stay in their heads. They never fully recovered and the psych out was in full force.
Nashville kept Penguins shotless for 37 minutes
Nashville is more than capable of shutting down Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. In Game One, the Predators prevented Pittsburgh from having any shots on goal for 37 minutes.
That never happens to the Penguins in the playoffs. It is a feat that the Predators need to build on and keep in their heads, as they head to Nashville for Game 3 on Saturday. Erase the no goal from their minds and Rinne allowing 3 goals in Game Two. Nashville also needs to stop venting their frustrations with bad penalties and focus on hitting the net.
Can the Nashville Predators win Game 3 at home? A loss would make it 4 must wins for the Predators for the rest of the Stanley Cup stretch. It’s time for Nashville to wipe the slate clean and start preying.
