Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, stops a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Monday, June 5, 2017, in Nashvill.
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And his name isn’t Murray.
Game 5 is Thursday night in Pittsburgh. And after Monday night’s Game 4 win – a 4-1 rout over the Penguins – the Predators have effectively changed the narrative by tying the series.
And while I’ve made no bones about my preference for who I would like to see win this series, it’s not easy to cheer for a team that has guys like Mike Ribiero and Harry Zolnierczyk on their payroll, and let us not forget their co-owner and his wonderful comments about our captain. Nashville’s depth players and middle-of-the-road players have badly outplayed its counterparts with the Penguins. Still, it’s better late than never. Prior to Monday, Murray was 7-0 in playoff starts following a loss. But it was Rinne who was the difference maker throughout a game that could have gone either way if not for a big save at the right time. These two games really showed everyone how good the Predators can be and that they’re for real. Both could have been classified as turning points.
Darting through the neutral zone, Sidney Crosby collected Brian Dumoulin’s stretch pass and streaked into Pittsburgh’s offensive zone.
Was it that long ago (2008) when the Eagles won a playoff game at home?
Crosby steps up: After being held without a shot in Game 3, Sidney Crosby had a goal on four shots in Game 4. It was ugly, boring hockey.
When he did, though, he made it look handsome. No luck. Then it was Bryan Rust’s turn and again, no dice. When the Detroit Redwings took Game 4 in 2008, 2-1, the Penguins watched the Cup slip through their fingers. But after a lengthy look at the goal, it was deemed that there was no goaltender interference.
Jarnkrok’s goal is his second of the postseason.
In some ways, it was a goal that also shouldn’t have been. It was his first goal in the Final since 2009, but it wasn’t almost enough. The catfish is also wrapped in what I am presuming is the rally towels or shirts the Predators were giving away at the stadium that day, but that is far less impressive and important as the aforementioned hat and toy penguin. Crosby was that risky.
They’ve taken care of that in the first period of Game 4. Matt Murray (22 saves) had stopped Craig Smith’s initial deflection of Austin Watson’s shot, but Jarnkrok’s follow gave him five points – one goal and four assists – in the past five games. Malkin had a more hard night.
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Malkin finished with two shots as the Penguins ended up being outscored 9-2 in Nashville. His only goals for the Predators have been in this series. Like back in the days when Pat Croce was rappelling from the roof of the Sixers arena and Allen Iverson was breaking ankles in a dramatic playoff run?
