Friday, June 9, 2017

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.
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.
They’re also throwing their own catfish.
The fan who threw the catfish in Pittsburgh was ejected from the game.
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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Thursday, June 8, 2017

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."

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

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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Sunday, June 4, 2017

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.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

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.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

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.