Stanley Cup: Minimalist Penguins Max Their Chances, Take Game 1

Technological advancement is moving so rapidly in the 21st century, it could well present a question for the age in all sports.

How acutely fine is fine in replay review?

Quantum physics teaches us that, really, objects never actually touch at the atomic level, but then again, they kinda do.

We're not quite there yet, but it did take a while in slo-mo to negate a critical Nashville Predator goal in Game 1 on this season's Stanley Cup finals:

Credit the Pittsburgh Penguins bench for seeing a slight bend in Filip Forsberg's knee as a clue that this pass was offside.

As you'll see, the PK Subban goal that was cancelled could've been huge. An empty netter made the final a 5-3 Pens win. It's the only stat that matters, and it was the only stat where they prevailed.

Assuming nothing else changed, Subban's goal would've made it 4-4 in the closing minutes, and for all we know, they'd be in infinite overtime right now.

After all, the Penguins were held to a mere 12 shots on goal, and that includes the gimme.

It was all they could do to contain Erik Karlsson in the bruising Eastern Conference finals. The Preds have four blueliners who may not be able to do everything Karlsson can do, but they come pretty damn close.

Not sure, then, which was more impressive:

• the way Nashville overwhelmed the Penguins, or
• the fact that Pittsburgh overcame it.

This could be the overlying theme to determine who hoists the hardware:

• Nashville's ominous when they're firing on all cylinders; just ask the Blackhawks, Blues, and Ducks.
• Pittsburgh's incredibly resilient; Washington was arguably the better team, but that's academic now.

Arguably, then, the Penguins may be the team with more to prove in Game 2.