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SPORTS Wednesday 31 May 2017
Preds encouraged despite Game 1 loss in Stanley Cup Final

DAN SCIFO ond period and Colton Sis- in the first period for Pitts-
Associated Press sons in the third, both on burgh. Matt Murray made
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The first the power play, before 23 saves.
period of their first Stan- Frederick Gaudreau tied The Predators were a per-
ley Cup Final game was a the game prior to Jake fect 3-0 on the road in
rough one for the Nashville Guentzel’s game-winner Game 1 during the play-
Predators. for Pittsburgh. offs. But they allowed three
They had a goal waved Pekka Rinne made seven goals in the first period for
off. They fell behind 3-0 and saves on just 12 shots. He just the fourth time this sea-
looked overmatched at faced eight of those shots son, and now they trail for
times. in the first period and then the first time in the Stanley
And then things settled saw none in the second Cup playoffs.
down. Nashville dominated period, the first time a team Nashville thought it scored
long stretches of the sec- held an opponent without the opening goal midway
ond and third periods, and a shot in a Stanley Cup Fi- through the first period
even limited the defend- nal since the league be- when Subban’s wrist shot
ing Stanley Cup champion gan tracking shots on goal from the point got by Mur-
Pittsburgh Penguins with- in 1958. The next shot he
out a shot for an impres- faced was Guentzel’s goal ray. But the goal was over-
sive 37-minute stretch be- with 3:17 to play. turned and ruled offside
fore falling 5-3. Game 2 is “At the end of the game, after the first coach’s chal-
Wednesday night. I’m disappointed I didn’t lenge in a Final game. Nashville Predators’ Filip Forsberg (9) lands on Pittsburgh Pen-
“I thought we outplayed help my team,” Rinne said. “The impact of that mo- guins’ goalie Matt Murray (30) during the third period in Game
them, I really did,” Preda- “We showed a lot of char- ment and then the chain 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, May 29, 2017,
tors defenseman P.K. Sub- acter and I felt we played of events that happened in Pittsburgh.
ban said. “Being down 3-0 a great game. They’re a after that with the penalty Associated Press
to the Stanley Cup cham- very opportunistic team, a kills I think changed the ators were less than 30 sec- side of the net. And with
pions, coming back and ty- high-skilled team, and we course of the game,” Pred- onds from killing the penal- just 16.1 seconds left in the
ing it up with an opportuni- have to limit our mistakes.” ators coach Peter Lavio- ty when Malkin’s slap shot first, Rinne poked Bonino’s
ty to win the hockey game Nick Bonino scored twice, lette said. from the point beat Rinne. centering pass and the de-
is definitely something to including and empty-net Pittsburgh was awarded a Sheary struck 1:05 after flected puck bounced off
build on.” goal, while Evgeni Malkin 5-on-3 power play for a full Malkin’s goal, converting Mattias Ekholm and into
Ryan Ellis scored in the sec- and Conor Sheary scored two minutes, and the Pred- a wide-open look from the the goal. q