Subban and the Predators were humbled 6-0 by defending champions the Penguins in game five on Thursday.
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Nashville Predators left wing Colin Wilson skates a drill during practice Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.
Game 6 is Sunday night in Nashville.
The more Murray fills his head with fine-tuning observations for Nashville, the less he’s likely to listen to or notice all of the noise – both literal and figurative – surrounding him at this stage of the Final.
One more loss away from the season being over, the “C” word kept coming up again and again heading into a must-win Game 6.
Back in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, Vancouver’s head coach infamously kept his No. 1 netminder in for all eight goals in an 8-1 blowout at TD Garden in Game 3. When bounces are not going your way, sometimes you. have second thoughts in your head.
The goalie so competitive he doesn’t like teammates scoring on him in practice is back in Nashville where he’s been almost unbeatable over the past two postseasons at 13-1.
But Pittsburgh’s big guns are firing now, and the Penguins may have figured out how to cover for their makeshift defence for a fourth straight series.
Interestingly, as dom pointed out the closest bubble to this one was G6 previous year against San Jose, the Stanley Cup clinching game where a very strong performance helped to win the Conn Smythe. One more win gives the Penguins the franchise’s fifth Stanley Cup, tying them with the Oilers for sixth all time.
The Penguins – who set a club record with their 10th home win of the playoffs – scored three times in the first period and another three in the second.
The first-minute penalty and double-five-hole goal. Rinne got the hook after allowing three goals on nine shots in the first period, and Nashville backup Juuse Saros didn’t fare much better, giving up three goals in relief.
Heading into Nashville, Pittsburgh was leading the series 2-0 but the Predators won Games 3 and 4 and tied the series 2-2.
The opening faceoff was delayed a few seconds after someone threw a catfish onto the ice – a Predators thing.
“I think Sid really understands the opportunity that this team has and he’s not taking anything for granted”, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. At this level, players have to be at their best always – they can’t save it for the right time because the right time may not come.
That, more broadly, is how Murray describes his ability to cooly handle the spotlight – “just worry about doing my job and trying to give the team the best chance to win”. His innate ability to get under his opponents’ skin makes him one of the most hated players in every road arena the Predators visit. “We know we’re going to face a desperate team”. It goes without saying that an Ellis injury would be a big deal for Nashville.
Subban, who claimed Crosby was complaining about Subban’s breath during a Game 3 run-in, just kind of sat there and took it.
Roman Josi says his defensive partner obviously is a huge part of the Predators’ defense.
Pekka Rinne – Nashville’s netminder has apparently run into his Kryptonite, and that’s playing in Pittsburgh.
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Crosby, who finished the game with three assists, said it was accident after the game. I think we’ve got to play with urgency. Goals are rare and hard to come by, players will take them whenever they come.
