Catfish watch is on for Game 2 of Cup Final

Among Penguins players, Guentzel is easily the quietest. It left the guys from “Smashville” in a new position for the first time since they began their mad dash to the final a month ago: chaser instead of chasee as Game 2 looms on Wednesday night.

The Penguins were happy Monday in Game 1 with how they played defensively against Nashville.

The Pittsburgh Penguins played their worst game of the 2017 playoffs in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup.

Scott Wilson (23) puts the puck between the pads of Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) for a goal during the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. But Guentzel also had the goal that tied the game 1-1 late in the first period that took away Nashville’s momentum.

The Predators biggest advantage in the series was their vaunted defence and like in Game 1, it seemed to be paying dividends in Game 2. The 24-year-old was a great physical presence against the Ottawa Senators, but again, Pittsburgh needs more speed versus the Predators. “They’re opportunistic”, Laviolette said.

“We talked a lot about elevating our play”, center Matt Cullen said of Pittsburgh’s second intermission team talk. “Pete and I should have written all these down”.

“It’s fun. We’re excited”.

That game is Saturday night in Nashville, and Rinne and the Predators are counting on a big dose of energy from a wild fan base that will be seeing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Final game at home.

After stealing a 5-3 win from the Predators, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to extend their series lead to 2-0.

“I think that’s just part of … the process of being in a seven-game series”.

“He’s the reason why we’re here”, Fisher said. It’s second to none. And it was once again led by the baby-faced son of a coach who has no problem shouldering the responsibility of playing alongside star Sidney Crosby. He earned his third point of the series on the Aberg goal and had five shots and five hits.

The price is just good enough to take a chance with the Predators. The Predators came apart some after allowing that second goal, and Pittsburgh ran them out of the building. He learned the rules of hockey thanks to video games on PlayStation and was in the stands for a recent game with his wife.

“Even with them crashing the net, he’s been phenomenal”, said Penguins forward Chris Kunitz. “We’ve got to find a way to do this”. Their schedule is insane. Only after they had the game well in hand and held a 4-1 lead did they punch back. It could be his call where he wants to coach next season but odds are it won’t be with the Predators. A decade later, the Predators have sold out 58 straight games. Of those teams, 90 percent went on to win the Stanley Cup, including Pittsburgh last season.

It’s not a guarantee, but it sure comes close.

“He never gets rattled”, Pens defenceman Ian Cole said. “It just sort of rallies around whatever is going on”. So Guentzel skipped out on his senior year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, joined the Penguins’ minor-league team in Wilkes-Barre and managed to get into 10 playoff games last spring, scoring 14 points, a dazzling debut.

The Titans, who hope to break their own eight-year playoff drought later this year, are fully on board, too. Game 2 is Wednesday. He was joined by his fellow offensive linemen and quarterback Marcus Mariota at two recent playoff games. “He has really good hockey sense and he’s able to read the play and he’s in around the net all the time”.

“Everything was there that we liked but the result”, Ellis said. “Sitting next to him, he seems like he’s really excited to be in the National Hockey League”.