Stanley Cup: Penguins Cluster Puck Rinne, Win Game 2

Published on 1-Jun-2017 by J Square Humboldt

NHL    NHL Daily Update

Share this article


Stanley Cup: Penguins Cluster Puck Rinne, Win Game 2

Over the past decade in the Nashville Predators' brief history, if success was mentioned in the same sentence as their name, Finnish goalie Pekka Rinne was probably a major reason why.

That applies to their Stanley Cup run this season, as well.

No team knew that better than the Chicago Blackhawks, whom Nashville swept in four Round 1 games.

When the rubber's met the road, Rinne's always found a way to step up his game.

Dude's even handled the unexpected in miraculous ways. Again, ask the Blackhawks:

That's why it's been so surprising that he's been Nashville's weak link so far in the Stanley Cup finals.

  • How does the Predators' defense hold explosive Pittsburgh to 12 shots in Game 1 and lose on what had to be considered a soft goal?
  • And what in the name of Georges Vezina was Rinne doing at the start of Period 3 in Game 2?

That's a 4-1 Penguins victory in 1000 words or less.

The Preds have controlled long swaths of play in both games, but it's taken marvelous moves like that of Pontus Åberg -- if you wanna go full Swede, pronounce his surname oh-berry -- to put one past Pittsburgh's Matt Murray.

Meanwhile, it seems all Pens rookie Jake Guentzel needs to do is look at the net to ring one up.

Dude's been in that sorta zone since the first round.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to be skating with Sidney Crosby.

Unless you're Sidney Crosby.

Ottawa went all-out Hanson Brothers on the Penguins captain, and while that wasn't in the Preds' game plan, it appears PK Subban wanted to get to know Crosby a little better after complaining of serial stick-holding by the Kid.

Dude also got into a dust-up dancefest with Geno Malkin, but that's just too embarrasing to put on this page.

It's all led to the Dark Lord to proclaim Game 3 in Nashville as Preds Guaranteed Win Night, which only means one thing:

More catfish.