Watch Live: Penguins celebration from Pittsburgh

The "City of Champions" will be rocking today as the 2017 Stanley Cup champion Penguins hold a public celebration, and you can watch along courtesy of WPXI in Pittsburgh.

LeBrun: James Neal would be exposed if Nashville uses an eight-skater protect route.

The Stanley Cup Final is over, and teams are most likely focused on the Expansion and Entry Draft now.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun tweeted some thoughts on James Neal and Calle Jarnkrok on the Nashville Predators, and a possible protection/espose route the Preds can go down.

Should Nashville go the 8-skater (four defensemen) protection route, which LeBrun says is likely, then he feels that it is possible that winger James Neal gets exposed in the expansion draft. LeBrun said that is not for sure, but that it is possible.

LeBrun also said that "Of course", another option in order to try and keep both James Neal and Calle Jarnkrok is to work out a side deal with Vegas which many teams are as well.

Back to back champs: Penguins beat Preds 2-0 for Stanley Cup

By TERESA M. WALKER
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Sidney Crosby is bringing the Stanley Cup back home to Pittsburgh for a second consecutive year. He's bringing another MVP trophy, too.

Patric Hornqvist scored with 1:35 left and Matt Murray made 27 saves for his second straight shutout as the Penguins became the first team in nearly two decades to repeat as champion with a 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on Sunday night.

The Penguins won their fifth title - all of them clinched on the road - to tie the Wayne Gretzky-Mark Messier-era Edmonton Oilers for sixth on the all-time list. The Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and `98 were the last champion to defend their title. The Penguins are the first to do it in the salary-cap era.

"We knew it was going to be tough all year, but we just tried to keep with it," Crosby said. "We had a lot of injuries and things like that. We just kept finding ways. That was really what we did all season, all playoffs. It's great to be able to do it."

Crosby also became just the third player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in consecutive years as the Stanley Cup MVP to go along with his third championship. He led the Final in scoring with one goal and six assists, including three in a 6-0 win in Game 5 that put the Penguins on the doorstep of another title. Only teammate Evgeni Malkin (28 points) had more than Crosby's 27 this postseason.

"You have a small window to play and have a career," Crosby said. "I feel fortunate, but I also understand how difficult it was so you just want to try to make the best of it."

Hornqvist scored off Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne's left elbow , the former Predator silencing the raucous crowd that had stood for long minutes and flung a few more catfish, too. Nashville challenged for goalie interference, but the goal was upheld. With Pekka Rinne pulled for an extra attacker, Carl Hagelin set off a bench celebration with an empty netter with 13.6 seconds left.

"Obviously, it's going to be the biggest goal I'm ever going to score," Hornqvist said. "That's always going to stand really close to my heart."

All that was left was the celebrating. Crosby took the Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman before handing the trophy off to veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey who passed it to veteran forward Matt Cullen.

Nashville lost for just the first time in regulation on home ice this postseason and this one had some hard luck. Colton Sissons had a goal erased by a whistle 67 seconds into the second period. The Predators went 0 of 4 with the man advantage, including 32 seconds of a 5-on-3 in the third.

"It stings," said defenseman P.K. Subban, brought over in a trade stunner in the offseason and a foil for Crosby all series. "I think the biggest thing we've got to take from this is, remember the feeling. That's what's going to drive us. .... We're going to be back here again next year."

Forget a golden anniversary: The Penguins will cap their 50th season with their names on the most famous silver cup in sports - again. It is also the third championship for Crosby and a handful of teammates from the 2009 title team, surpassing the two won by the Penguins teams led by current owner Mario Lemieux in the 1990s.

And it's the second championship in 18 months for coach Mike Sullivan, who has yet to lose a playoff series since taking over after Mike Johnston was fired. Sullivan is the first American-born coach to win the Cup not once, but twice.

"It's been an amazing year from the start, trying to repeat," Lemieux said. "A lot of these guys played injured in the playoffs and showed a lot of character. Of course, Sid being the best player in the world again and winning the Conn Smythe. He was our leader and picked up the team when we needed it."

Murray became the first goalie to win not one, but two Stanley Cups as a rookie after being a late-season call up a year ago who didn't play enough games to get that tag removed. That's something neither Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden or Cam Ward ever managed, but the 23-year-old Murray finished this Final shutting out Nashville for the final 146:52. He set a rookie record with two shutouts in the Final.

"What an experience," he said. "It doesn't get any better."

The loss ended the upstart Predators' deepest playoff run in their 19-year history and one that became the talk of the town - and the league.

Having won just three of 12 playoff series before this year, Nashville opened this postseason by eliminating the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in four games. In doing so, the Predators became the first eighth-seeded team to sweep a first-round series since the current playoff format was introduced in 1994. Nashville went through St. Louis and then Anaheim to the Final, where only captain Mike Fisher on the roster had ever played before.

The stingy Predators found Pittsburgh was up to the task, with the Penguins taking the first two games on home ice. Nashville roared back at home to even things up, but the Penguins routed Nashville to set up Game 6.

The Penguins ruined Nashville's big party on the final night of CMA Music Festival, which brought more than 100,000 to downtown Nashville. Country star Luke Bryan serenaded fans from the rooftop of a honky-tonk in a performance that kicked off the television broadcast, and he also sang a four-song set for fans inside and outside the arena an hour before face-off.

Faith Hill became the latest to sing the national anthem with husband, star Tim McGraw, giving her a hug once finished before waving a towel in each hand. At least five catfish hit the ice before the face-off.

Then a series that hadn't featured even a single one-goal game went scoreless through the first 58 minutes. The Predators thought they had the first goal of the game, just like they did in Game 1 in Pittsburgh, only to have referee Kevin Pollock wave it off immediately. He had whistled the play dead when he lost sight of the puck with Murray on the ice between him and the puck.

Sissons tapped the puck into the net 67 seconds into the second period behind Murray's back. Officials huddled, but the goal was not allowed.

Murray also stopped Sissons on a breakaway midway through the second and also gloved a shot from Viktor Arvidsson later in the period. The Penguins also killed off 32 seconds of a 5-on-3 at 8:47 of the third after Trevor Daley punched Ryan Ellis with Olli Maatta already in the box for tripping. Murray made a big stop on a shot by Mattias Ekholm followed by a save on Arvidsson.

"We never gave up," Fisher said. "We lost a lot of guys to injuries. Sixteen seed. No one really gave us a chance against anyone and here we are in Game 6. Things didn't go our way, but that happens. That's sport. Like I said, this team never gave up. We believed all the way."

This championship season for the Penguins lacked some of the drama from a year ago, but it was far from a slam dunk. Washington won the President's Trophy for a second straight season and pushed Pittsburgh to seven games in the second round. Ottawa did the same thing, forcing the Penguins to double overtime to clinch the Eastern Conference title.

Crosby, Malkin and others also played in the World Cup of Hockey before the season, making this an even longer year than usual. In the end, the Penguins had more than enough in the tank to bring home another title.

"We've got a collection of guys who understand what it takes to win," Crosby said.

Notes: Lemieux won the Conn Smythe in 1992 and 1992, and Bernie Parent was the first to win the MVP trophy in consecutive years in 1974 and 1975. ... Murray is the first goalie with two shutouts in one Cup Final since Boston's Tim Thomas and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo had two apiece in 2011. ... Nashville finished the series going 0 of 8 on the power play over the final two games. ... Grammy winners Cage the Elephant performed during the second intermission after playing at Bonnaroo on Friday night.

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AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow and AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee contributed to this report.

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This story has been corrected to show Murray shutout streak was 146:52.

Live Stream: Stanley Cup Final Pregame Show

Join the crew at NHL Tonight as they preview the Stanley Cup Final. Highlights, interviews, analysis and much more in our exclusive live simulcast of the NHL Network.

Live stream Luke Bryan's pregame performance

Country music superstar Luke Bryan is performing live from the rooftop of Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge in Nashville and streaming live on NHL.com.

The performance is also being shown on large screens throughout Lower Broadway, outside Bridgestone Arena as part of the Predators viewing party and inside the arena for fans in attendance for Game 6 (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports).

Pens vie for Stanley Cup repeat in Game 6 vs. Predators

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- There are coaches who will tell you that a playoff series doesn't truly start until the road team wins a game.

In the case of the Stanley Cup Final, the first road win will spell the end of the series. The defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins can become the first team to repeat since Detroit in 1998 if they can crack the code of raucous Bridgestone Arena Sunday night in Game 6 against the Nashville Predators.

"We're just going to try to stay in the moment regardless of whether it needs to be played," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "We're going to try to play the game that gives us the best chance to win."

That game looks a whole lot like Game 5, in which the Penguins ambushed Nashville early and often, scoring six goals in the first two periods and netting a contentious 6-0 win that gave them a 3-2 series lead.

It looks nothing like Games 1 through 4, in which the Predators controlled the flow of play most of the time. While Pittsburgh created really good scoring chances in the first two periods of Game 4, it was still outshot in each of the first four games, sometimes by a lot in terms of total shots.

Nashville looked nothing like that team Thursday night, instead imitating deer frozen by headlights. Goalie Pekka Rinne lasted one period, undone by poor defense in front of him and the relentless Penguins attack.

During the 72-hour break between Games 2 and 3, Predators coach Peter Laviolette was asked repeatedly if he intended to bench Rinne. That line of questioning has been squashed during this 72-hour hiatus, in part because Laviolette wouldn't entertain it, and also because Rinne has simply been so dominant at home.

He's 9-1 in this year's playoffs at Bridgestone Arena, ceding just 15 goals and often standing on his head with spectacular saves like the ones he made in Game 4 that led Nashville to a 4-1 victory.

"He's the same every day," Laviolette said of Rinne. "He works hard every day. His demeanor seems the same to me. We've got to do a better job in front of him. I know there's things we can do that can support our goaltender better."

One thing can be accomplished simply by playing at home. In addition to the deafening crowd that seems to act as an extra skater, wearing the gold uniforms gives the Predators the final change. That allows Laviolette to use his top defense pairings more in faceoff situations to better counter the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

But what if Nashville's Big Four defensively becomes a Big Three? Ryan Ellis, who left Game 5 in the second period with an upper-body injury, didn't practice on Saturday.

However, Ellis was on the ice skating on Sunday morning, and the Predators are hoping Ellis will be able to play.

If he's not able to go, Roman Josi, P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm may have to soak up extra minutes.

Regardless, the Predators will be a formidable foe on friendly ice, especially now that they're in win-or-else mode. No one knows that better than the team trying to knock them out.

"We have to approach it like the team that's playing for its life tomorrow," defenseman Ron Hainsey said. "Everybody's focus will be on getting off to a real good start because if we don't, it could be a rough night."

Flyers sign Shayne Gostisbehere to multi-year contract

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed defenseman, Shayne Gostisbehere to a multi-year contract extension, according to general manager Ron Hextall.

Gostisbehere recently completed his second full season with the Flyers after being drafted by the club in the third round (78th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. 

"It's a dream come true to be part of one of the best organizations in hockey," Gostisbehere said. "With everything that's going on here - we've got some young guys coming up and we've already got some key pieces - it's nice to know you're part of the future and part of the plans. There's many more steps to come and hopefully it leads to some great things. It's a tremendous honor to realize you're part of the future."

Including the two games played in 2014-15, Gostisbehere has recorded 24 goals and 61 assists for 85 points in 142 games over parts of three seasons. In 2016-17, he led the Flyers defense for the second straight season with 39 points (7g-32a) in 76 games. He finished fourth among all NHL defensemen with 21 power-play assists and seventh in overall power-play scoring among d-men (23) in 2016-17.

In his final eight games, the Pembroke Pines, Florida native averaged a point per-game pace with (1g-7a) along with a +3 rating. As a rookie in 2015-16, he was named the winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers' best defenseman.

Gostisbehere finished 2016-17 with 17 goals and 46 points in just 65 games to lead the Flyers defense in scoring and the entire team in overtime goals (4), while 16 of his goals either tied the game, gave the Flyers the lead, or became the game-winning goal. He recorded a 15-game scoring streak from Jan. 19 to Feb. 20 that set two Flyers records: Longest scoring streak by any Flyers rookie and longest scoring streak by any Flyers defenseman, in addition to setting one NHL record: Longest scoring streak by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. He recorded 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points, which set a new franchise record for goals by a rookie defenseman, and also led all rookie defensemen in the NHL in goals (17), assists (29) and overall scoring with his 46 points. Of his 17 goals, 16 of them either tied the game, gave the Flyers the lead, or became the game-winning goal.

Blue Jackets sign Dean Kukan to a one-year two-way extension

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Dean Kukan to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract extension through the 2017-18 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Kukan, 23, recorded four goals and 25 assists for 29 points with 43 penalty minutes in 72 games with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters this past season. He led club defensemen in assists and points and finished third on the team in assists and games played (tied) and fifth in points.

The Volketswil, Switzerland native has posted 7-35-42 with 51 penalty minutes in 105 career AHL games since making his North American pro debut with the Monsters in 2015-16. He added 1-4-5 with two penalty minutes and was +4 in 17 playoff games to help the club capture the 2016 Calder Cup. The 6-2, 196-pound defenseman made his NHL debut during the 2015-16 campaign, registering a +9 plus/minus rating in eight contests with the Jackets, including playing in his first NHL game on March 26, 2016 at Nashville.

Originally signed by Columbus to a two-year, entry level contract on June 1, 2015, Kukan collected 8-21-29 with 26 penalty minutes and a +19 plus/minus rating in 125 career SHL games with Luleå from 2011-15. He has represented Switzerland in numerous international tournaments, including the 2014, 2015 and 2017 IIHF World Championships.

Blue Jackets sign Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year extension

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year contract extension through the 2018-19 National Hockey League season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Korpisalo, 23, is 23-16-5 with a 2.68 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and one shutout in 45 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets. He has also posted a 15-16-5 mark with a 2.57 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 37 career American Hockey League games with the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters and Springfield Falcons since making his North American pro debut at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

The Pori, Finland native went 7-5-1 with a 2.88 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and one shutout in 14 games with the Jackets this past season. He stopped 24 shots to record his first NHL shutout in a 7-0 victory over the NY Islanders on February 25, 2017. He was also 7-6-3 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 16 contests with the Monsters.

Korpisalo made his NHL debut in 2015-16, finishing third among NHL rookie goaltenders in wins and save percentage and fourth in games played with a 16-11-4 record, 2.60 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 31 contests. The 6-3, 190-pound netminder also registered an 8-8-2 mark with a 2.36 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 18 AHL games with the Monsters. He went 6-2 with a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% in nine playoff games to help the Monsters capture the 2016 Calder Cup championship.

Selected by Columbus in the third round, 62nd overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft, Korpisalo went 17-15-7 with three shutouts in 48 career games in the Finnish Elite League (Liiga) from 2013-15.

Blue Jackets sign Zac Dalpe to a two-year two-way entension

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Zac Dalpe to a two-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract extension through the 2018-19 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Dalpe, 27, tallied a goal and two assists for three points with nine penalty minutes in nine games with the Minnesota Wild and added 10-6-16 and 22 penalty minutes in 32 American Hockey League games split between the Iowa Wild and Cleveland Monsters in 2016-17. He notched 8-6-14 and 22 penalty minutes in 20 games with the Monsters after being claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets on February 27, 2017.

The Paris, Ontario native has registered 12-12-24 with 23 penalty minutes in 128 career NHL games with the Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes since making his NHL debut during the 2010-11 campaign. He recorded career highs with 4-3-7 in 55 games with the Canucks in 2013-14. The 6-1, 192-pound center has also collected 97-93-190 with 98 penalty minutes and a +8 plus/minus rating in 270 career AHL games with the Monsters, Wild, Rochester Americans, Utica Comets, Charlotte Checkers and Albany River Rats.

Originally Carolina's second round pick, 45th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft, Dalpe played two seasons at Ohio State (CCHA) from 2008-10, recording 34-36-70 and 44 penalty minutes in 76 contests.

Preds’ Colton Sissons cleared for Game 6 after match penalty

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Predators center Colton Sissons will be able to play in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final after the NHL decided against suspending him.

The NHL reviewed Sissons’ cross-check of Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta’s face inside the final minute of Thursday night’s 6-0 win by Pittsburgh. Sissons was given a match penalty, triggering an automatic review. Not having Sissons would have been a blow to Nashville’s depth at forward with center Ryan Johansen and left wing Kevin Fiala out injured.

The league announced its decision on Twitter on Friday.

Having completed its automatic review of an incident in Game 5, D.O.P.S. has decided that Colton Sissons will not be suspended for Game 6.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) June 9, 2017

Sissons’ penalty was one of 14 given to the Predators with 10 handed out to Pittsburgh for a total of 100 penalty minutes.

Game 6 is Sunday night in Nashville. Pittsburgh leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

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Sidney Crosby repeatedly punched P.K. Subban's face into the ice in Game 5

By Hemal Jhaveri / For The Win / USA Today | June 8, 2017 9:22 pm

P.K. Subban spent all of Game 3 and Game 4 in Nashville getting under Sidney Crosby’s skin, needling him on and off the ice. In Game 5, Crosby fired back and it went beyond gamesmanship after the final whistle.

At the tail end of the first period, and with the Penguins leading 2-0, Crosby and Subban clashed near the boards behind the net, with Crosby holding Subban down and repeatedly pushing his head into the ice.

The referees were occupied with action on the other end of the ice and didn’t seem to notice or ignored Crosby keeping Subban down for so long.

Sidney Crosby shoving P.K. Subban's head into the ice over and over. Off-setting minors. #Preds pic.twitter.com/B7mUbDat1P

— Mark Harris (@TweetsByHarris) June 9, 2017 >

Players often see what they can get away with from the refs, but this is an egregious missed call, which should have been a five-minute major for Crosby at minimum. Instead, Crosby and Subban got matching two-minute minors, because Subban, when he was finally was able to get up, shoved Crosby.

This play certainly isn’t going to help Crosby’s reputation as a dirty player who is coddled by the league, nor should it.

Speaking to the media after the Penguins 6-0 win, Crosby said Subban was holding his legs.

“He was doing some UFC move on my foot. So I don’t know what he was trying to do. But I was trying to get out of there.”

Subban dismissed the play as “just hockey,” but his coach Peter Laviolette was less willing to overlook the incident.

“I don’t understand it,” he said. “I really don’t understand the call. I saw my guy get his head cross-checked into the ice 10 times. I don’t even know what he did, P.K. I’m not sure. I disagree with the call.”

Catfish throwing continues: Predators fan tosses one on ice in Game 5, gets ejected

By Alysha Tsuji / For the Win / USA Today | June 8, 2017 9:16 pm ET

Even after Predators head coach Peter Laviolette asked fans to stop throwing catfish on the ice during games, a catfish was still thrown on the ice in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh.

CATFISH ON THE ICE IN PITTSBURGH. #Preds pic.twitter.com/xkClSrWxcV

— AtoZSports Nashville (@AtoZSports) June 9, 2017

It’s a Predators tradition. Five catfish were thrown on the ice during Game 3.

The fans watching the game from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville loved it.

Catfish on the ice in Pittsburgh. Fans go nuts here in Nashville. pic.twitter.com/sZLZVDPzeb

— Autumn Allison (@Aallison25) June 9, 2017

They’re also throwing their own catfish.

CATFISH ON THE ICE. I repeat. CATFISH ON THE ICE HERE IN NASHVILLE. pic.twitter.com/JDBE3sYXKa

— Autumn Allison (@Aallison25) June 9, 2017

The fan who threw the catfish in Pittsburgh was ejected from the game.

Man in ❤️ Carrie shirt gets escorted out of the building after throwing a catfish onto the ice. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/nLJOfgftPS

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 9, 2017

It’s pretty crazy fans are willing to be ejected in Pittsburgh for catfish, especially considering a fan was even arrested for throwing one, but they continue to do so and will probably never stop.

Penguins crush Predators 6-0 to take 3-2 lead in Stanley Cup

By WILL GRAVES
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The night started with a catfish throw.

It ended with haymaker after haymaker - both literal and proverbial - from Sidney Crosby and the rest of the resilient Pittsburgh Penguins.

The defending champions provided an emphatic reminder of why they're on the cusp of history with a 6-0 demolition of the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to take a 3-2 lead. Pittsburgh will have a chance to become the first franchise to win back-to-back championships since Detroit in 1998 when the series shifts back to Nashville for Game 6 on Sunday night.

"Still a lot of work to be done but the way we played tonight, if we can build off that momentum, that's important," Crosby said after collecting three assists. "We know we're going to be facing a desperate team."

One that can't get back to the creature comforts of Smashville fast enough. The Penguins chased Pekka Rinne with a three-goal barrage in the first period and kept it going against backup Juuse Saros to push the Predators to the brink of elimination for the first time during their run to the final.

"I don't know if anybody shakes off a game like that that quickly," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "Nobody feels good leaving the building playing the way we did."

All the good mojo Rinne generated while helping Nashville rally to tie the series at 2 vanished in a span of 20 minutes. Justin Schultz beat Rinne just 91 seconds in , Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin followed before the first period horn sounded, continuing Rinne's baffling inability to play effectively in Pittsburgh during the series. Rinne has stopped just 34 of the 45 pucks that have come his way during seven forgettable periods at PPG Paints Arena.

"It was just one of those games where they were going and we were trying to find it and didn't really get it going at any point," Rinne said.

Not that the Penguins gave them much of a chance.

Conor Sheary, Phil Kessel - just as linemate Malkin predicted - and 35-year-old playoff newbie Ron Hainsey also scored for Pittsburgh. It was Crosby who sent the message - with his vision, his creativity and, oddly, his fists.

The two-time MVP's eventful night included becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer in the Stanley Cup Final, a two-minute roughing penalty for trying to dribble Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban's head on the ice near the end of the first period and what he said was an inadvertent flip of a water bottle onto the ice during play.

"I think Sid really understands the opportunity that this team has and he's not taking anything for granted," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

And apparently not taking any more stuff from Subban either. The two stars became tangled up behind the Nashville goal late in the first with Crosby on top. He attempted to extract himself but couldn't, then unleashed a torrent of punches at Subban's head.

"He was doing some sort of UFC move on my foot," Crosby said. "I don't know what he was trying to do. ... I don't know what he was trying to do to my ankle. I was in some kind of lock there."

Subban, who claimed Crosby was complaining about Subban's breath during a Game 3 run-in, just kind of sat there and took it. The exchange ended with both players heading to the dressing room with minor penalties. 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.

"That is, hands down, the best game that we've played in this series to this point," Sullivan said.

Saros hardly fared any better. Sheary took a pretty feed from Crosby and sent it by Saros 1:19 into the second to push Pittsburgh's lead to four. Kessel ended a six-game goal drought 8:02 into the second. The score had been predicted by Malkin and it came just seconds after Crosby threw a water bottle onto the ice as the play went by Pittsburgh's bench, a move he told referees was unintentional.

When Hainsey, who waited 907 regular-season games before reaching the playoffs for the first time this season, tapped in a pass from Malkin to make it 6-0, the stage was set for the Penguins to return to familiar territory.

The franchise has won all four of its Cups on the road. A shot at a fifth awaits Sunday, though it'll hardly be easy.

"It's a good game but it's still not done," Malkin said. "We still need one more game, one more win."

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. "You're in the Cup final, this is what it's all about. It's about going back and forth."

NOTES: Matt Murray finished with 24 saves. ... Crosby now has 20 career points in the Stanley Cup Final, a new franchise record and one more than team owner Mario Lemieux. ... Crosby also moved into a tie with Denis Potvin for 19th on the all-time career playoff scoring list. ... 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. ... The teams combined for 100 penalty minutes (58 for Nashville, 42 for Pittsburgh). ... Guentzel's assist moved him into a tie with Dino Ciccarelli and Ville Leino for the most playoff points by a rookie in NHL history (21). ... Penguins F Nick Bonino missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury. ... Nashville F Colin Wilson made his series debut after missing the first four games with an undisclosed injury. Wilson skated on the fourth line with Frederick Gaudreau and Harry Zolnierczyk.

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Penguins host Predators in pivotal Game 5

Stats, LLC

PITTSBURGH -- In simple terms, the Nashville Predators want to break serve with a road win while the Pittsburgh Penguins want to break a two-game losing streak.

It's the Stanley Cup Final, however, and there's usually not much that is simple when the NHL season reaches this point.

After the Penguins won Games 1 and 2 at home and Nashville answered with victories in their building in Games 3 and 4, Game 5 returns to PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Both teams spoke of confidence Wednesday entering what has boiled down to a best-of-three series.

"I know we'll play so hard," said Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin, who leads all postseason scorers with 26 points.

"It's a good situation for us. We're 2-2. It's even. We're playing against a good team. We play here, at home. It's a good chance to again lead the series."

The Predators think they're in a pretty good spot, too, with two wins in a row.

"We know this game we're going to have to be at our best, there's no question," Nashville center and captain Mike Fisher said. "We know who we're facing, in their building. We got to be ready to be at our best.

"We know it's an exciting challenge. I think you'll see we'll be ready for it."

Thursday's winner will have a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6 on Sunday night in Nashville. Game 7, if necessary, will be Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena.

Home ice has been critical so far. The Penguins won their two home games by a combined 9-4. Nashville won its two at home by a combined 9-2. That might seem to put the pressure on Pittsburgh, the defending Cup champion, playing at home in Game 5.

"I don't know that we feel that we're against the ropes. I think we have to win a game. That hasn't changed," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "'Desperate' is a funny word for me because it gets thrown around our game a lot. It always has a connotation of hopelessness. I don't believe that's the word that we want to use to describe our team.

"I think we've got to play with urgency. I think we've got to play determined. I think we have to play with conviction. I think when our team plays that way, we're at our very best."

The Penguins retooled their top line in practice Wednesday, with Conor Sheary rejoining rookie Jake Guentzel, who leads the postseason with 13 goals, and regular-season goals leader Sidney Crosby.


Those three had enough success to earn an unofficial name -- the Sid and the Kids Line -- before a goal drought and seeming slip in confidence moved Sheary down the lineup in the playoffs, and even out of the lineup for three games. But Pittsburgh might be willing to give the trio a chance to try things again.

The Predators, in contrast, just want more of the same results they got the past two games as they chase the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

"Two-out-of-three now. It's pedal down. We're ready," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said.

That probably goes for both clubs.

"I think both teams have gotten better throughout the series, and that's expected," Predators winger James Neal said. "It's going to be a battle going in there, and we need to steal one in their arena."

Preds even Stanley Cup Final at 2-2, beat Penguins 4-1

By TERESA M. WALKER
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Frederick Gaudreau sure is doing his best to earn his own locker with the Nashville Predators with a Stanley Cup Final debut for the ages.

For now, he insists he is happy enough just to sit on the floor as long as he plays.

An undrafted free agent playing in just his sixth postseason game, Gaudreau scored the go-ahead goal 3:45 into the second period and Pekka Rinne made 23 often-spectacular saves as the Predators beat the Penguins 4-1 on Monday night to even the series at 2-2.

It's now a best-of-three sprint to the Stanley Cup, and Nashville is riding a wave of momentum after outscoring the defending champions 9-2 in the Games 3 and 4 of their Final debut.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Gaudreau, a 24-year-old rookie, only has a chair in the locker room, but he now is the second player in NHL history to score his first three career goals in a Stanley Cup Final, joining Johnny Harms with the 1944 Blackhawks.

"He's been unbelievable for us the way he's come in, and he's just been so good, timely goals and composed," Nashville captain Mike Fisher said. "He definitely belongs, and he's been a huge part of our success."

Gaudreau is also just the third rookie to score game-winning goals in consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Final since the NHL took over sole possession of the trophy in 1926-27. Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel did it in the first two games of this series and Roy Conacher did it for Boston in Games 3, 4 and 5 against Toronto in 1939.

Calle Jarnkrok, Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg also scored for Nashville, which improved to 9-1 at home and roared back after dropping the first two games of the series on the road.

"We were in a tough hole against a really good team, came home and took care of the home games with the help of all our great fans," Rinne said. "It's a great feeling. We played two really good games."

Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby scored his first goal in the series after not getting a shot on goal in Game 3. The goal was his first in the Stanley Cup Final since June 4, 2009, a span of 12 games, but it wasn't enough as the Penguins lost two straight for the second time this postseason. Goalie Matt Murray lost consecutive games for the first time in his young career.

"It's hard to win when you score one goal," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought tonight of all nights, we generated the most chances of the highest quality."

Nashville tapped country singer Dierks Bentley as the latest star to sing the national anthem, while Jason Aldean waved the towel to rev up the crowd. Former NBA star and TV commentator Charles Barkley also was on hand , accepting NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's invitation to watch in person. Carrie Underwood admitted during the first intermission that she didn't get Fisher, her husband, a birthday present on Monday - holding out hope that a Stanley Cup championship celebration would do the trick in coming days.

"That's all I wanted for my birthday," Fisher said afterward of the big win.

Craig Smith ricocheted a puck off Murray's pads that Jarnkrok tapped in at 14:51 to start the fans yelling louder. Pittsburgh lost a challenge for goalie interference.

Just 66 seconds later, Crosby tied it up for Pittsburgh on a dazzling breakaway. He skated in on Rinne, holding the puck, faking a slap shot and then slipping one past the goalie for his eighth goal and 24th point of the playoffs. He also moved into 20th all-time in NHL playoff points but the Predators clamped down after that.

Rinne kept it tied in the early minutes of the second with a stop of Guentzel before a big save on Chris Kunitz on a breakaway. And then came Gaudreau's goal, confirmed only after the horn sounded and officials reviewed the play. They ruled Gaudreau's wraparound attempt slid the puck just over the line before Murray stopped it, giving Nashville a 2-1 lead 3:45 into the second.

"I heard it on the bench that it was possibly in the net," Gaudreau said. "I wasn't certain. When I heard the horn, I sort of thought it was in."

Crosby had another breakaway nearly midway through the period, and Rinne stopped him not once, but twice. Then the goalie slid to his right stopping Guentzel with an assist from Nashville defenseman Roman Josi. Crosby and Evgeni Malkin finished with six shots, but just the lone goal.

"It's a game of execution," Crosby said. "They capitalized on our mistakes, and we have to do the same."

Arvidsson made it a 3-1 Nashville lead with his first goal since the end of the first round. James Neal started the play, getting the puck to Fisher who fed the puck up to Arvidsson while falling to the ice. Arvidsson beat Murray under his glove, putting the puck just inside the right post at 13:08.

"If I make the save there, it could be a different game," Murray said.

Forsberg sealed the win with an empty-netter with 3:23 left.

Notes: Fisher, scoreless until the Final, now has four points with his fourth on his 37th birthday. ... With his goal, Crosby now has 161 career playoff points and moved past Mike Bossy, Gordie Howe, Al MacInnis and Bobby Smith for 20th all-time by himself. ... The Penguins now are 13-3 after a playoff loss under coach Mike Sullivan, and Murray is 7-1 in playoff games started after a loss. ... Rain kept the crowd outside from reaching the more than 50,000 who turned Saturday night for the first Stanley Cup Final game in Tennessee. Still, people filled three blocks of Broadway, even with Nashville opening up a downtown amphitheater for fans to watch. ... After the anthem, two catfish and one stuffed penguin hit the ice despite Nashville coach Peter Laviolette's video plea earlier Monday asking fans not to throw anything.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

Predators erupt in Game 3, claw back in Cup final

(TSX / STATS) -- NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two during the pregame warmups. Two more after Martina McBride crooned the National Anthem. One more during a stoppage in the third period.

Five catfish, one for every goal the Nashville Predators scored in their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals victory on a loud Saturday night in Bridgestone Arena.

Five different players scored the goals and Pekka Rinne bounced back from two subpar performances in Pittsburgh with 27 saves as the Predators bounced the Penguins 5-1 to cut the defending Cup champions' series lead to 2-1.

Game 4 is Monday night, with Nashville getting a chance to even a series that looked like it was going to be all Pittsburgh after 5-3 and 4-1 wins during Games 1 and 2, respectively.

But the catfish-slinging crowd, dotted with numerous celebrities, seemed to spur an uptick in the Predators' quality of play. All five goals happened in the final two periods as Nashville married its series-long advantage in even strength shot attempts with actual production.

"It was unbelievable," Rinne said of the standing-room only crowd, which was chanting and standing during warmups. "I've never seen anything like that. It was a good showcase for the city and the fans."

And a good one for Rinne, too, who some felt would be benched in favor of Juuse Saros for Game 3. A Conn Smythe Trophy favorite going into the series, Rinne stopped only 28 of 36 shots in the first two games, a .778 save percentage.

However, coach Peter Laviolette never seriously entertained a change. After Rinne ceded Jake Guentzel's 13th goal of the postseason on the Penguins' second shot at 2:46 of the first period, he returned to All-Star mode.

Shortly after the Predators took a 2-1 lead with two goals in 42 seconds early in the second period, Rinne weathered a short storm. Pittsburgh created a pair of point-blank chances. Rinne snuffed out wristers from Phil Kessel and Chris Kunitz, further fueling the audience.

"It was a key moment," Rinne said of those saves. "I think they connected on the same play last game, so I was aware of it. The first couple of games, it's been a battle. But you just focus on the next save and remind yourself it's the Finals and life's pretty good."

It was really good for Roman Josi prior to and after Rinne's key stops. Josi capped Nashville's first power play at 5:51 of the second with a one-timer from the right circle for his sixth marker. Then he provided the secondary helper on Frederick Gaudreau's second of the playoffs 42 seconds later that put the Predators ahead for good.

For good measure, Josi hit the scoresheet a third time in the period. His shot went behind the net. Viktor Arvidsson collected it and fed James Neal, whose shot at the right post caromed off Matt Murray's leg at 19:37 for a 3-1 advantage.

The three-point period gave Josi 14 in 19 playoff matches, second most on the roster.

"I think part of it is our system," he said of his production. "It allows the defensemen to jump into the play."

As the Penguins went into chase mode, Nashville took advantage of mistakes. Craig Smith converted a turnover at center ice into a breakaway goal at 4:54 of the third period for a 4-1 lead. Mattias Ekholm capped the scoring with a power-play tally at 13:10.

They became the 18th and 19th Predators to score goals in the postseason, exemplifying the "next man up" mentality they've adopted after losing top center Ryan Johansen and top six forward Kevin Fiala during this playoff run.

"Everyone is jumping in," Smith said. "It's a treat to watch these guys come in and excel."

Murray, who stopped 60 of 64 shots in the first two games, made 28 saves in a losing cause.

"Do we have to be better? Yeah, we know we have to be better," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think our team is capable of that. It's a seven-game series. We knew this was going to be a hard-fought battle."

NOTES: Pittsburgh C Nick Bonino, who was struck by a P.K. Subban slapper in the ankle in Game 2, was scratched. Carl Hagelin drew into the lineup in his place. ... Bridgestone Arena became the 40th different venue to host a Stanley Cup Finals game Saturday night. ... Other notable Penguins scratched were LW Tom Sestito, D Mark Streit and D Chad Ruhwedel. ... Nashville scratches included LW Colin Wilson, RW Miikka Salomaki and LW Cody McLeod. RW PA Parenteau replaced McLeod, playing just his fourth game of this postseason.

Predators aim to claw back in series vs. Penguins

Stats, LLC

Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette said Friday morning that he's liked all but 10 of the 120 minutes his team has played in the Stanley Cup Final.

Those 10 minutes have put his team in an 0-2 hole as the Predators prepare to host Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

A 5-3 defeat in Game 1 Monday night saw Pittsburgh score three goals in the first period's final five minutes, then snap a tie in the last 3 1/2 minutes of the contest with Jake Guentzel's wrister and an empty-net tally.

Wednesday night's Game 2 was tied 1-1 after two periods, but Guentzel scored 10 seconds into the third. That was followed up by two more goals in the next three minutes, and that secured a 4-1 victory.

"There's been a lot of good hockey in the 120 minutes played so far," Laviolette said. "There's been a lot of things we've really liked. We've had a couple of tough puck bounces with regard to us putting two in our own net. We need to have more production."

Four goals in two games hasn't cut it against rookie goalie Matt Murray, who was the best player on the ice for most of the first two periods in Game 2. Murray made 31 saves in that span as the Predators consistently dictated play.

While there was a bit of fortune involved -- Calle Jarnkrok missed an open net on a rebound shortly after Pontus Aberg scored Nashville's only goal -- Murray displayed the poise that has come to mark his play in his brief playoff career.

"Murray was able to swallow most of them up," Penguins forward Conor Sheary said. "There were spurts when they got a few chances in a row where Murray had to make some big saves."

Contrast that with Pekka Rinne's struggles in Games 1 and 2, and one has the flash point for this series. Rinne stopped just seven of 11 shots in Game 1, then saved 21 of 25 shots before being pulled for Juuse Saros with 16:32 left in Game 2 after Evgeni Malkin scored.

Laviolette said he has decided on a starter for Game 3, but wasn't divulging it to anyone outside his team.

"To be polite and answer your question again, we don't talk about lineup decisions," he said.

If Rinne does get the call in Game 3, he'll at least do so in a place where he has dominated this postseason, going 7-1 with a save percentage of nearly .950 and a goals-against average of less than 2.00. He's won all three Game 3s in this postseason, ceding just four goals.

During a Thursday night practice and again on Friday, Predators players spoke of having the confidence to get back into the series on home ice. Defenseman P.K. Subban guaranteed a Game 3 win mere moments after Game 2, then doubled down on his prediction Thursday.

The loud sellout crowd is certain to inspire Nashville, but doesn't figure to intimidate the defending Stanley Cup champs. They are 5-4 on the road this postseason, and clinched the Cup last June on San Jose's home ice.

"I think we have to embrace the energy that's going to be in the city and the building," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said.

Penguins explode in third, take 2-0 series lead on Preds

(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- With the game tied in the second intermission Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins came to a mutual agreement that it was time to step things up.

Good talk.

Rookie Jake Guentzel promptly scored his second goal of the game just 10 seconds into the third, the first of three Pittsburgh goals in a span of 3:18, leading the Penguins to a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final at PPG Paints Arena.

The defending champion Penguins hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Saturday.

Scott Wilson and Evgeni Malkin followed with the other two third-period goals. Nashville's Pontus Aberg and Guentzel scored in the first for a 1-1 tie that carried into the third.

Until the three-goal eruption, the Penguins were struggling some on offense -- outshot 32-19 at that point -- though not as much as in Game 1 when they overcame a 37-minute shot drought.

So that was what they chatted about in the locker room.

"Just a little bit of a wakeup call," Wilson said.

"We talked a lot about elevating our play," added center Matt Cullen of Pittsburgh's second intermission. "We didn't think we had reached our best play yet and we were in a good spot at 1-1, and it's an opportunity to go out and throw up your best period and put yourself in a good spot, and I thought we had a really good period."

Guentzel's second goal of the game -- his playoffs-leading 12th and his second game-winner in a row -- came when he got a long rebound of a shot by Bryan Rust and took advantage of an open quarter of the net to make it 2-1.

It was a Pittsburgh record for fastest playoff goal at the start of a period.

"It's crazy," Guentzel said of his two big games this series after an eight-game goal drought. "You can't even put into words what it feels like.

"But we know the ultimate goal is two more wins, and they're going to be tough to get."

The tiebreaker wasn't the end of the Penguins' quick start in the period.

A Phil Kessel shot grazed Wilson's stick before it was knocked into the net by the skates of Nashville's Vernon Fiddler. The puck trickled under goaltender Pekka Rinne's pads at 3:13 to make it 3-1.

Just 15 seconds later, Malkin scored off a two-on-one, firing a perfect shot over Rinne's glove for a 4-1 lead.

The quick goal surge was enough for Nashville coach Peter Laviolette to send in backup goalie Juuse Saros in to replace Rinne, but the Penguins wouldn't have minded scoring more.

"When we score one, we don't stop," Malkin said. "We want to score more. The first shift in the third period, we score. We want more. It's our game. Never stop."

Rinne stopped 21 of 25 shots. He allowed four goals on 11 shots in Game 1 and has allowed 20 goals over his past six games after allowing just 16 over his first 11 playoff games.

"Pekka's been terrific through this entire playoffs," Laviolette said. "I think there's things we can do better. All three goals in the third period we can do something better."

Rinne doesn't want to have any carryover from the two losses.

"You have to put it behind you," he said. "For me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I've played a long time, and this is my first time having a chance to play for the Cup, so I think you just have to bury these two games and move ahead and just find a way to find some success."

Pittsburgh goaltender Matt Murray stopped 37 of 38 Nashville shots while waiting for the top offense in this year's playoffs to kick in.

"I just tried to make the next save, tried to hold them off as long as possible," Murray said. "After that, we have confidence that we're going to score goals."

Chris Kunitz had two assists for the Penguins for a second game in a row.

Nashville, a first-time Final participant, heads home with a sizeable task.

"We're concerned about where the series is at," Predators captain Mike Fisher said. "We're not where we want to be."

NOTES: Penguins C Matt Cullen left briefly in the first period after being hit from behind into the boards by Predators D Matt Irwin. There was no penalty. ... Pittsburgh C Nick Bonino needed assistance to the locker room after blocking a shot off his left ankle area in the first period, but he returned. ... Pittsburgh RW Patric Hornqvist redirected the puck past G Juuse Saros at 6:48 of the third on a power play, but the goal was waved off after a review determined the Penguins were offside. ... Penguins C Evgeni Malkin and Nashville D P.K. Subban -- two of the biggest names in the game -- fought at 12:14 of the third, with Malkin picking up an extra roughing penalty. ... Pittsburgh made no lineup changes, meaning LW Carl Hagelin was a healthy scratch. ... Nashville also went with the same lineup as in Game 1.

Bruins with big moves to make soon

A couple of big moves in the coming months could propel the B’s next season.

By RICH SLATE / Metro Boston (May 31, 2017 edition)

Charlie McAvoy

After missing out on the NHL playoffs the past two years, the 2016-17 season for the Boston Bruins had to be considered a success since they returned to the postseason and pushed Ottawa in an extremely tight six-game first round series that featured four games that were decided in overtime.

The B’s stumbled into a new head coach in Bruce Cassidy, who was very deserving of the extension that they gave him in April. And for the first time in a while, Boston is flush with young talent headlined by right wing David Pastrnak (34 goals, 36 assists) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who made his NHL debut in Game 1 vs. Ottawa and never looked out of place on the top defensive pairing with captain Zdeno Chara.

The key for the Bruins is to carry over the positive developments from the second half of this past season into this summer with the expansion draft on June 21 and then as free agency begins on July 1. With some shrewd moves during what are sure to be some hectic days, Boston should solidify its place as not only a surefire playoff team in 2017-18 but one that can do some serious damage. Remember this is the wildly unpredictable NHL, where the Nashville Predators are playing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history – as a No. 8 seed.

As of this moment, the Bruins have a projected cap hit of $62,531,668 million with cap space of $10,468,332 million,  according to capfriendly.com. Looking at the roster that they finished with in April, they have eight free agents to address (five restricted and three unrestricted). Pastrnak is clearly going to cash in big time and the team has to have been happy to hear him state his desire to remain here long-term. Centers Noel Acciari and Tim Schaller were good fits as well so I’d expect them to return on team-friendly deals. Forward Ryan Spooner has been the subject of many trade rumors and he’s coming off a rough season so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elsewhere. Likewise, veteran forwards Dominic Moore and Drew Stafford were solid additions, but Boston will probably replace them with younger options. It’s likley that defenseman John-Michael Liles and Joe Morrow are both gone as well.