C10  Sunday, June 4, 2017  |  THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH ••

Predators 5 / Penguins 1

Rinne steady in goal,

Predators roll at home
By Teresa M. Walker
Go to dispatch.com/rewards
The Associated Press
to enter and save today.

WIN FOUR
NASHVILLE, Tenn. —
Pekka Rinne and the
Nashville Predators
are very hard to beat
on their home ice this

TICKETS
postseason, and now
they have added their
biggest piece of fran-
chise history yet.
A victory in the Stan-

TO A
ley Cup Final.
The embattled Rinne
not only started, he
made 27 saves. Roman

CONCERT!
Josi and Frederick
Gaudreau scored 42
seconds apart in the
second period, and Right wing James Neal, left, celebrates with teammates after
the Predators beat the scoring late in the second period to give the Predators a 3-1
Pittsburgh Penguins lead. [Mark Humphrey/The Associated Press]
5-1 on Saturday night Pittsburgh and now is STANLEY CUP FINAL
(Best-of-7; x-if necessary)
to pull within 2-1 in the one off Dino Ciccarelli's Pittsburgh 2, Nashville 1
best-of-seven series. rookie record of 14 in May 29: Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 3
May 31: Pittsburgh 4, Nashville 1
The Predators capped 1981 for Minnesota. Saturday: Nashville 5, Pittsburgh 1
the party in Nashville Guentzel, already with Monday: Pittsburgh at Nashville, 8 p.m.
x-Thursday: Nashville at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m.
with a victory that gave two game-winning x-June 11: Pittsburgh at Nashville, 8 p.m.
thousands of fans inside goals in the series, put x-June 14: Nashville at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m.

and outside of the arena the Penguins up 1-0 on Saturday’s summary

reason to celebrate. Predators 5, Penguins 1
their second shot with Pittsburgh 1 0 0 — 1
Credit Rinne for a wrister off a rebound Nashville 0 3 2 — 5
First Period—1, Pittsburgh, Guentzel 13
coming through with that beat Rinne just (Cole, Crosby), 2:46. Penalties—Subban,
a stingy performance 2:46 into the game. NSH, (holding), 4:50; Nashville bench,
served by Neal (too many men on the
and improving to But Rinne stopped ice), 12:44.
8-1 in Nashville this the next 26 shots for the Second Period—2, Nashville, Josi 6
(Ekholm, Jarnkrok), 5:51 (pp). 3, Nashville,
postseason. victory and the party Gaudreau 2 (Watson, Josi), 6:33. 4,
The Predators call continued into the Nashville, Neal 6 (Josi, Arvidsson), 19:37.
Penalties—Schultz, PIT, (holding), 4:13;
the 6-foot-5 Finn their night. Ellis, NSH, (boarding), 16:37.
Third Period—5, Nashville, Smith 1,
backbone, yet critics Laviolette stuck 4:54. 6, Nashville, Ekholm 1 (Sissons,
wanted him benched with Rinne after lots Jarnkrok), 13:10 (pp). Penalties—Hagelin,
PIT, (roughing), 10:42; Ekholm, NSH,
after he looked shaky of questions about his (roughing), 10:42; Crosby, PIT, (boarding),
in the first two games goalie, though he did sit 12:43; Malkin, PIT, (cross checking),
12:43; Forsberg, NSH, (cross checking),
in Pittsburgh, giving veterans Cody McLeod 12:43; Arvidsson, NSH, (holding), 15:24;
up eight goals on just and Vern Fiddler to get Neal, NSH, (unsportsmanlike conduct),
15:24; Cole, PIT, (roughing), 15:24; Daley,
36 shots. Coach Peter more speed with Harry PIT, (holding), 15:24; Hornqvist, PIT,
Misconduct (misconduct), 15:38; Ekholm,
Laviolette benched Zolnierczyk and P.A. NSH, Misconduct (misconduct), 15:38;
him in the third period Parenteau. Pittsburgh Kunitz, PIT, Misconduct (misconduct),
17:01; Watson, NSH, Misconduct (mis-
of Game 2 when Rinne forward Carl Hagelin conduct), 17:01; Cullen, PIT, Misconduct
gave up three goals in played for the first time (misconduct), 17:01; Kessel, PIT, (cross
checking), 17:01.
the first 3:28 of a 4-1 with center Nick Bonino Shots on Goal—Pittsburgh 6-13-9—28.
loss. out after taking a Nashville 12-16-5—33.
Power-play opportunities—Pittsburgh 0 of
Josi added two Subban slap shot off his 3; Nashville 2 of 3.
Goalies—Pittsburgh, Murray 5-1 (33
assists. James Neal, left foot in Game 2 that shots-28 saves). Nashville, Rinne 12-6
Craig Smith and Mat- left him on crutches and (28-27).
T—2:41.
tias Ekholm also scored in a walking boot. Referees—Wes McCauley, Dan O’Halloran,
as the Predators worked Matt Murray Brad Meier. Linesmen—Scott Cherrey,
Brad Kovachik, Brian Murphy.
out some frustration extended his scoreless
against the Penguins. PLAYOFF LEADERS
streak to 72 minutes, Through May 31
"Like our team has 54 seconds, with the SCORING GP G A Pts
Evgeni Malkin, PITT 21 9 17 26
done the whole play- Pittsburgh goalie look- Sidney Crosby, PITT 20 7 15 22
offs against Chicago, ing ready to notch his Phil Kessel, PITT 21 7 13 20
Jake Guentzel, PITT 21 12 7 19
St. Louis, Anaheim, 21st playoff win. Then Ryan Getzlaf, ANH 17 8 11 19
we showed really good he gave up five goals in Erik Karlsson, OTT 19 2 16 18
Leon Draisaitl, EDM 13 6 10 16
composure," said the span of 15 shots. Filip Forsberg, NSH 18 8 7 15
Nashville defense- The Predators got it Bobby Ryan, OTT 19 6 9 15

man P.K. Subban, who started with a three-

had predicted a win in goal flurry in the Neal made it 3-1 with
Game 3. "We're going to second. 22.6 seconds left in the
take that into the next Josi scored his sixth second, banking the
game." goal off a slap shot at puck off Murray's left
Game 4 is Monday 5:51 , tying it at 1. Then arm. Smith's goal on a
night. Gaudreau scored 42 breakaway at 4:54 was
Jake Guentzel seconds later to put his first of the playoffs,
scored his 13th goal Nashville ahead with and Ekholm padded the
this postseason and his wrister from the lead with a power-play
fourth of this series for high slot. goal with 6:50 left.