This is it for the NHL season this year. At the end of this post, the Stanley Cup Champions are crowned.
Game 1: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Matt Murray for the Penguins. Pittsburgh began in the first period with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his eighth of the postseason, powered by Trevor Daley and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins added on with a Conor Sheary goal, passed from Chris Kunitz and Crosby. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Nick Bonino scored his third of the playoffs, thanks to Brian Dumoulin. Nashville got on the board with a Ryan Ellis power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the postseason, with assists provided by P.K. Subban and Mike Fisher. The Predators got closer in the third period with a Colton Sissons power play goal, his sixth of the playoffs, made possible by Roman Josi and Calle Jarnkrok. Nashville tied it on a Frederick Gaudreau goal, assisted by Austin Watson and Fisher. The Penguins reclaimed the lead on a Jake Guentzel goal, his tenth of the postseason, helped along by Matt Cullen and Justin Schultz. Pittsburgh won 5-3 with an empty net goal by Bonino, his fourth of the playoffs, set up by Kunitz. The three stars went to Bonino, Kunitz, and Crosby, while Fisher gets an honorable mention. The Penguins have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Matt Murray for the Penguins. Nashville led off in the first period with a Pontus Aberg goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Viktor Arvidsson and Mike Fisher. Pittsburgh tied it on a Jake Guentzel goal, his eleventh of the playoffs, guided in by Conor Sheary and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins took the lead in the third period with Guentzel's second of the game and twelfth of the postseason, fueled by Bryan Rust and Ron Hainsey. Pittsburgh added on with a Scott Wilson goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Phil Kessel and Matt Cullen. The Penguins extended the lead as Evgeni Malkin scored his ninth of the postseason, helepd along by Kunitz and Ian Cole. Juuse Saros replaced Rinne in goal. The final held at 4-1, with the three stars being Guentzel, Murray (37 for 38 in saves), and Kunitz. The Penguins leave home with a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Matt Murray for the Penguins and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Jake Guentzel goal, his thirteenth of the postseason, coming off of Ian Cole and Sidney Crosby. Nashville tied it in the second period with a Roman Josi power play goal, his sixth of the playoffs, powered by Calle Jarnkrok and Mattias Ekholm. The Predators took the lead on a Frederick Gaudreau goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Austin Watson and Josi. Nashville added on with a James Neal goal, his sixth of the playoffs, helped along by Viktor Arvidsson and Josi. The Predators extended the lead as Craig Smith scored an unassisted goal in the third period. Nashville padded the lead with an Ekholm power play goal, with helpers from Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars going to Josi, Ekholm, and Rinne (27 for 28 in saves), while Jarnkrok gets an honorable mention. The series is now favoring the Penguins by a 2-1 margin.
Game 4: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Matt Murray for the Penguins and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Nashville started in the first period with a Calle Jarnkrok goal, his second of the postseason, via Craig Smith and Austin Watson. Pittsburgh tied it on a Sidney Crosby goal, his eighth of the playoffs, coming off of Brian Dumoulin. The Predators retook the lead in the second period with a Frederick Gaudreau goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Ryan Ellis and Harry Zolnierczyk. Nashville added on with a Viktor Arvidsson goal, his third of the playoffs, passed from Mike Fisher and James Neal. The Predators iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal in the third period by Filip Forsberg, his ninth of the postseason, set up by Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban. The three stars were Gaudreau, Rinne (23 for 24 in saves), and Arvidsson. The series heads north again tied at 2.
Game 5: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Matt Murray for the Penguins. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period with a Justin Schultz power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist. The Penguins added on with a Bryan Rust goal, his seventh of the playoffs, passed from Chris Kunitz and Trevor Daley. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Evgeni Malkin scored his tenth of the postseason, thanks to Phil Kessel and Ron Hainsey. Juuse Saros replaced Rinne to start the second period. The Penguins padded the lead on a Conor Sheary goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Pittsburgh continued on a Kessel goal, his eighth of the postseason, made possible by Olli Maatta and Crosby, who earned a sock trick. The Penguins struck again with a Hainsey goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Malkin and Kessel. This produced the 6-0 final, with the three stars given to Kessel, Malkin, and Crosby, while Hainsey gets an honorable mention. The Penguins will get up to two chances to win the Cup, leading the series 3-2 as they leave home.
Game 6: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Matt Murray for the Penguins and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Pittsburgh got going in the third period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his fifth of the postseason, coming off of Justin Schultz and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins iced it at 2-0 with a Carl Hagelin empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Brian Dumoulin. The three stars were Murray (27 save shutout), Hornqvist, and Rinne (27 for 28 in saves). The Penguins won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year by a 4-2 series margin. Sidney Crosby earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for the second year in a row as well.
That's it for hockey on this blog until October. Viewership has been down recently, and with only soccer occasionally over the next four months, I expect that trend to continue. I should be able to return to NHL coverage in the fall, but many things will change in my life between now and then. I hope to be employed as a writer for another site at some point, at which time I will let you know where you can follow my work going forward. If not writing, I will be doing a retail job of some variety, and I may not have the time to keep up with the blog. If this occurs, that will be the end of my self-driven publishing career. I hope it doesn't come to that, but there's a chance it could. If you enjoy MLS or NWSL action, continue to follow along as I work through their respective seasons. Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0, and I enjoy returning in the fall if I can.
