After Last Night's Game It's Hard to Imagine the Penguins Losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Predators

By Djack

If you're a Nashville native or just so happen to be a Predators fan, last night must've been brutal. The Predators did everything in their power in the first period to shoot themselves in the face and ruin their chances at winning game 1. Not only did they have an awful first period, they followed it up with a pretty dominant performance the rest of the way, and they still couldn't pull out the victory. Not only was it demoralizing, it was a wake up call, the Penguins didn't even play good, and they still won the game 5-3. If you're a Predators fan this has to worry you.

The P.K. Subban goal being overturned was complete horseshit. It was incredibly close, on calls like that I'll always say leave it as it was called on the ice, but they didn't, and as a result the Penguins gained momentum. Soon after on a 5 v 3 power play Evengi Malkin scored on a slap shot that just beat Pekka Rinne glove side. Penguins had a 1-0 lead and all the momentum in the world on their side. About a minute later Conor Sheary scored the biggest goal of his life and then another minute later the Penguins scored again when a shot deflected off a Predators defenseman into the net. Penguins led 3-0 after the first period.

I knew the Predators weren't going to give up. They came this far as an underdog they weren't going to shy away after the most unlucky period of hockey they've ever been apart of. They came out in the second period and dominanted the Penguins in all facets of the game. Seemed like the Predators were in the zone the entire period putting shots on net. Unfortunately, only one of them found the back of the net on a power play. Penguins lead 3-1 after the 2nd period, although it seemed like the Predators had finally settled down, and were going to take control of this series.

​In the 3rd period, more of the same out of the Predators as they continued to get looks offensively. The Penguins had under 10 shots on net for the entire game halfway through the final period compared to the Predators who had close to 30. The Predators would score a short handed goal and a goal on the power play to tie the game up at 3 a piece with about 7 minutes left to go in the game. The momentum had completely shifted, the Predators looked as if they were the far superior team, and then the Penguins turned defense to offense, finishing off Nashville. Justin Schultz, crushed a Predators player into the boards, the puck scooted over to Matt Cullen, who then laid it off to Jake Guentzel, who sniped a goal where momma keeps the cookie jar. Penguins would then score on an empty net minutes later and went onto win 5-3.

Many of you might be thinking well it was a tight game, so the Predators definitely have a shot in this series. Well, the Penguins played pretty horrific last night, still they managed to get the job done. That's not a promising sign for the Predators whatsoever. I will say this, if it wasn't for that shit storm of bad breaks in the first period the Predators might have won and they did dominate the rest of the game besides for the last 5 minutes. Maybe there's more hope than I thought for the Preds. Although, I promise you the Penguins will never have less scoring opportunities than they did last night, so the Predators are definitely in some trouble regardless of well they play for stretches last night. History sure isn't on their side either, I believe somewhere around 75% of the time the game 1 winner wins the Stanley Cup. Looks like Pittsburgh is about to repeat. It was a nice story Nashville, but now it's time to go home Cinderella, you're drunk.