Matt Murray remains Penguins starter for Game 5

And his name isn’t Murray. He picked up an assist in both Games 3 and 5.

“Pek’s was awesome again tonight”, said defenceman Ryan Ellis. “They’re a good team, and they can (create) chances from nothing”. But, just as he did during past year playoffs, he’s been leading the team, in general.

Their favorite hockey team just tied the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece following Monday night’s exhilarating 4-1 win over the reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

History should also tell us all not to count Nashville out in this one. The road to the Stanley Cup can be a bumpy ride. Still, it’s better late than never.

It’s Rinne and the Predators’ ability to bring that level of effort and execution to the road that will determine this series. “I thought tonight, of all the games, we generated the most chances and the highest quality”. “Those two first games, that was the one thing we were a little bit disappointed about”. He did not play in Games 3 and 4 after taking a P.K. Subban slapshot off his foot in Game 2.

The Predators had jumped out to a 1-0 lead with 5:09 left in the first period when center Calle Jarnkrok knocked home a rebound as he went sailing into the crease.

It was a unsafe play from a player who should probably know better based on his own concussion history, however, it illustrated the kind of attitude Crosby had brought to what was a pivotal Game 5.

“Obviously it’s hard to win when you score one goal”, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “That was the case in our building and it was the case in their building”. Right now I’ll go with the over and look further in to the match ups.

The acrobatic Rinne kept it tied in the early minutes of the second period, first with a scintillating stop of Jake Guentzel, then by foiling Chris Kunitz on a clearcut breakaway.

“It’s not easy, but I know I can be better myself”, Malkin said. “But at the moment that was a big play”. When the Penguins had just three goals during the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals against Ottawa last month, they scored 10 over the next two to take control. “Pek’s did a phenomenal job on the first save, the second, the third, the fourth”. “I think with the opportunities he’s gotten through the regular season and through increased playoff experiences, he’s really shown he is a leader on this team”.

8 p.m. – After the first period, the Penguins have a 3-0 lead on the Predators. Crosby was that risky. After the Penguins outscored the Predators by a combined scored of 9-4 in Games 1 and 2, the Predators followed it up by outscoring the Penguins, 9-1, in Games 3 and 4. A third Cup for Crosby and Malkin would give them as many as Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. We’re playing against a good team.

“It’s time”, Malkin said.

“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.

We’ve seen this (cat) fish before. Neal was able to force the puck up the ice while pinned against the boards. The Predators couldn’t get the puck out of their zone and failed to generate zone time until the middle of the period. But it was Arvidsson who used his speed to motor up the ice and create the breakaway.

As the pair got tangled up behind the net, Crosby pushed Subban’s head into the ice, which garnered a pair of matching minors for both sides. “He’s the heartbeat of the team”.