As had been the story from games three and four in Nashville, the PRedators came out with a hot start, controlling the play. Nashville had a chance with a powerplay halfway through the period but they came up short. The tale of the tape from the opening period was Pekka Rinne. Rinne looked comfortable coming out of the net to play the puck at every opportunity. And when tested with a few decent shots, and Penguins players crashing the net, it didn’t seem to phase Rinne. Nashville will be wondering why they couldn’t get this same version of Rinne in the three games in Pittsburgh to this point. That was one of the biggest things that Nashville needed in this hockey game, was Rinne to return to form at home, to at least try and keep the Preds alive.
Once the middle period got going, it was more of the same as the first period, with Nashville coming out hot and controlling the play. Then, crazyness happens. At the 1:07 mark Filip Forsberg took a soft wrist shot into the bread basket of Matt Murray, where it slipped under his arm and into the blue paint where Colton Sissons pushed the puck into the net. Unfortunately for them, the referee apparently lost sight of the puck and blew play dead. No goal. Nashville had a legitimate gripe, because the puck was still live when the ref blew the play dead. Under NHL rules, once the ref loses sight of the puck, its his judgment to blow the play dead. now there's no guarantee that Nashville might have been able to pull the game out, but having that goal stand would have been huge for the shift in momentum for the Preds favor.
Lets not take anything away from what Mstt Murray did in the Penguins net. He was able to go virtually save for save with Pekka Rinne. Neither of the goalies faced a ton of shots, but both of them played their parts in keeping this game even. Murray continued his solid play and Rinne continued to confuse with his night-and-day performances away and home. The third period played much the same time as the first 40 minutes, with end-to-end hockey being played. Lots of giveaways, lots of passing, and lots of offensive zone entries. Truly hockey to admire in such a massive game for the NHL and both organizations respectively.
Then, after back and fourth hockey, it finally happened:
Patric Hornqvist buried his 5th of the playoffs and what would be the biggest goal of his hockey life to date. It gave the Penguins a lead that they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the season.
And just for fun, here's what the end of the 2017 NHL Hockey season looked and sounded like, just in case you missed it.
For Pittsburgh it marked the fifth title, and send time ever that they've won the Cup in back to back years, having done it in 1991 and 1992. For the 2nd year in a row, the Conn Smyth trophy was awarded to Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby finished 2nd in the playoffs in scoring with 28 points, one behind playoff scoring leader Evgeni Malkin. As good as Crosby is, I don't think it should have gone to him. Playoff MVP should have gone to either Evgeni Malkin or Pekka Rinne. Malkin lead the NHL in scoring with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points. And Rinne played out of his mind all playoffs long and deserved a better fate then he got. But the reason I feel Crosby got it was because he was a major part as to why the Penguins are even in the finals in the first place.
So congratulations are in order to the now two time defending Stanley Cup Champions the Pittsburgh Penguins!
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