Monday, June 5, 2017

Penguins look to bounce back in Game Four - 2017 Stanley Cup Final

Sidney Crosby / MF
By: MF, 

The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in action tonight to battle the Nashville Predators in Game Four of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals.

The Penguins are coming off a hard 4-1 loss in Game Three, which was the home opener for Nashville in these Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins now have the chance to bounce back and take this series back to Pittsburgh to close it out. However, to accomplish that goal the Penguins will have to put on the pressure early and keep it up throughout the game. Momentum has proven to be a game-changer throughout the playoffs and that hasn't changed. The Predators took control of the momentum surge and ended up with the win in Game Three. The Penguins now must learn to combat that and capitalize on their own surges, including the power play where they have struggled. The lack of power play production by the Penguins in Game Three was a difference maker. They need to fix that tonight.

This is also a chance for Matt Murray to bounce back after a lackluster performance. This is a crucial game for the Penguins. They need to response with speed, resilience, and show the Predators that they are not easily put away. Lets Go Pens!

The Pens lineup is as follows:

Forwards
Guentzel - Crosby - Rust
Hagelin - Malkin - Hornqvist
Kunitz - Cullen - Kessel
Sheary - Rowney - Archibald

Defense
Dumoulin - Hainsey
Maatta - Daley
Cole - Schultz

Murray in the net!

Play by Play
Pens 1 Predators 4

3rd Period
0:00 - That brings an end to this game as the Predators tie up the series 2-0 with a 4-1 win over the Pens. Back to the Burgh.

0:24 - Another Predator penalty. Five-on-four for the rest of this one.

1:39 - Pens with a power play chance.

3:09 - Faceoffs are critical and the Pens haven't been winning a bunch of them in this series. That last one was vital, but the Predators get the win, which resulted in the empty net goal.

3:23 - Forsberg scores an empty netter. 4-1 Predators 

3:31 - Empty net for the Pens.

6:26 - Subban is back on the bench for the Predators.

7:08 - Subban is down on the ice in pain. He hobbles to the bench and goes to the locker room. This occurred after blocking a shot.

8:12 - Sheary is robbed by Rinne.

10:05 - The Predators check the Pens changing and Fisher gets in all alone. Murray robs him!

11:22 - Murray with a huge save and he stretches out to deny the rebound chance. Remember that save, if the Pens are able to come back.

14:20 - Malkin with a wrap-around chance that ends up going across blue paint area.

16:25 - Would like to see some more from Malkin's line. They need to kick things into gear.

20:00 - We are back for the third period! The Pens have to put on the pressure and Murray must hold strong! Lets Go Pens!


2nd Period
0:00 - That will do it for the second period and the Predators have the 3-1 lead.

0:30 - Predators with the momentum and pressure.

2:56 - Rinne fights off a shot from Archibald.

4:21 - Murray has to stop that breakaway there. He didn't and it hurt. Rinne has stepped up for the Predators. The Pens need the same from Murray.

6:52 - Arvidsson scores. Arvidsson gets a breakaway and beats Murray glove side. 3-1 Predators

11:02 - Crosby gets a breakaway and both his attempts are stopped. The loose puck is found and directed to the open net. Rinne dives back to the goal to stop it. Crazy sequence.

11:45 - A successful penalty killing effort for the Pens.

13:45 - The Predators are getting a power play chance. Hainsey is guilty of a high stick.

16:15 - Gaudreau scores. Gaudreau wraps the puck around and Murray is unable to get there in time. 2-1 Predators.

16:31 - Kunitz gets a breakaway and goes five-hole, but Rinne closes the door.

17:27 - Crosby out works Josi to get the puck and feeds it to the front of the net for Guentzel. His one-timer is stopped by Rinne.

18:41 - That brings an end to the power play.

18:58 - Some quality chances on the power play. Much improved.

20:00 - Time for the second period! The Pens start with a 1:19 power play and they need to capitalize on it! Lets Go Pens!


1st Period
0:00 - The first period ends and this one is tied 1-1.

0:41 - A late power play for the Pens. Neal is off to the box for interference.

1:05 - Schultz with a strong stick to deny a cross pass in front. Murray follows it up with a save.

4:03 - CROSBY SCORES! Crosby gets behind the defense and is all alone when he receives a chip pass up to him! Crosby fakes the shot, holds the puck while stickhandling and puts the puck off the post then Rinne's skate into the net! 1-1 tie game

5:09 - Jarnkrok scores. The puck ends up loose in front after Murray makes a save. Jarnkrok puts the puck in the open net. 1-0 Predators

5:55 - Crosby sends the puck across the blue paint, but Guentzel is unable to get a stick on it.

6:38 - Neal had two quality chance in front at point blank range. Murray denies him both with the left pad.

10:45 - A solid and aggressive penalty kill by the Pens.

12:45 - Hornqvist will go to the box for tripping. The first power play of the game will go to the Predators.

13:04 - Huge save by Murray as Dumoulin turns over the puck in front.

14:55 - There have been a ton of faceoffs to start this game. No flow to the game. Cole finally gets the first shot of the game.

15:28 - A great defensive play by Kunitz who broke his stick on a previous Predators' shot. He was able to box out a Predator, which resulted in the puck going out of the zone.

17:41 - Archibald with some great fore-checking to get the Pens some time in the offensive zone. He has some jump in his play.

20:00 - Time for Game Four! The Pens need to come out with speed, fire, and bounce back after Game Three! Take 3-1 lead back to Pittsburgh! Lets Go Pens!

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