(inspired
by Tim Wharnsby, CBC Sports)
On
May 29th, the Pittsburgh Penguins played their first game of the
Stanley Cup Final series of 2017 against the Nashville Predators. The Penguins who are the defending champions
are up against the playoff team that placed last during the regular season –
sixteenth. It’s a miracle that the
Predators have made it this far. Now,
the true test begins. How far will this
series go? What are the odds that the
Penguins will prevail? How will these
two teams interact? No one knows what to
expect. I guess that’s what makes it
exciting. After all, the Stanley Cup
Final is a kind of season unto itself.
It’s impossible to predict what will happen because anything can and
does happen.
Game
1 took place in Pittsburgh. Early in Period 1, the Penguins scored three
quick goals. It seemed like a foregone
conclusion about the outcome. Then, the
Penguins did not get even a shot on goal for the next thirty-seven minutes –
more than a period and a half! In Period
3, Nashville came back and scored three goals!
The game seemed destined for overtime when Nashville pulled their No. 1
goalie, Pekka Rinne, to get the extra attacker and Pittsburgh suddenly came
back with two additional empty-net goals!
However, most sportscasters seemed to agree that the Pittsburgh Penguins
did not do much of anything in Game 1.
It was a fluke that the Penguins even won it 5-3. It was obvious that they would have to be
much more offensive in Game 2.
Pittsburgh now leads the series 1-0.
Game
2, on May 31st, was also in Pittsburgh. During Game 2, the Penguins came back with a
vengeance this time, scoring four goals versus the Predators’ single goal. What a dramatic reversal! This time, the Penguins were much more
offensive, as they knew they needed to be, with many more shots on goal than in
Game 1. The Penguins attacked much
harder than the Predators. The final
score: 4-1 for Pittsburgh. No point in letting the Predators think they
could come back in this series. Now,
Pittsburgh has increased their series lead to 2-0.
After Game 2:
[as quoted by Tim Wharnsby, CBC Sports]:
“…But, more attention was paid [by the Predators] to Subban’s guarantee
because of his outspoken, confident personality and because he’s one of the
most polarizing figures in the game.
Good for Subban to ‘step up and profess the faith he has in his club’, that
the team would come through at home. Why
not? The Predators fans are among the
best in the hockey business. They
exhibited this to a worldwide television audience on Saturday with their
chants, standing up for almost the entire game to support their club.”
Game
3, on June 3rd, took place in Nashville. During Game 3, Nashville came back with a
vengeance this time, scoring five goals versus Pittsburgh’s single goal. If the Penguins thought that conquering
Nashville in this series was going to be a cake walk, how wrong they were! P.K. Subban, one of the Predators leading
defencemen, “made good on [his] bold guarantee that the upstart Predators would
bounce back to win Game 3 in the Stanley Cup Final”. Subban said this right after Game 2 was
over. And, the Predators did just that.
In addition, by Game 3, Predators goalie, Pekka Rinne, had regained his
stride. Again, neither Sidney Crosby nor
Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins got a single shot on goal! The Predators were determined not to let the
series get out of hand with a 3-0 series standing against them. Their terrific home-ice advantage was
definitely working to help them win against the Penguins. Now, the series stands at 2-1 for the
Penguins.
Game
4, on June 5th, was also in Nashville. Both the Predators and the Penguins went on
the attack. By the end of Period 1, the
score was tied at 1-1. This time, Sidney
Crosby scored a goal for Pittsburgh, his first Stanley Cup Final goal since
2009. However, by the end of Period 2,
Nashville had scored two more goals, making the score 3-1 for Nashville. By the end of the game, the score stood at
4-1 for the Predators due to a late empty-net goal against the Penguins. Now, the series is tied at 2-2. The next three games will alternate: Pittsburgh – Nashville – Pittsburgh (if the
series goes all seven games).
Game
5, on June 8th (my birthday), took place in Pittsburgh. The scoring got started early with Pittsburgh
scoring twice in Period 1. I was
expecting Pittsburgh to come out strong tonight since the series is now tied
2-2 and Pittsburgh is determined to win this series and ultimately, the Stanley
Cup. It would be a great accomplishment for
the Penguins to win the Cup twice in a row because that feat has not been
accomplished by any team for at least twenty-seven years. Although tonight’s game will not be the
series winner for either team, it will definitely put heavy pressure on the
loser. Game 6 could be the game that
wins the series for the Penguins, but, if not this one, Game 7 will do it, for
sure. However, never say die. The Predators are not going to go down easily
and the Penguins will have to fight fiercely for every goal. So will the Predators.
Well, what do you know? Sidney Crosby got into a scuffle with P.K.
Subban, and just got turfed out of the game, hopefully only for the rest of Period
1. Since when does Crosby ever get thrown out of
a game? Anyway, right after that, Evgeni
Malkin scored the third goal of Period 1 for Pittsburgh, so I guess Crosby
doesn’t have to worry so much since the score is now 3-0 for Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to see what happens in Period 2.
As it happened, Sidney Crosby was back in Period 2. I’m still not sure why he left the game late
in Period 1 though. Apparently, he’d thrown
an empty water bottle out onto the ice surface late in Period 1. I think he was pissed off at the Predators
for being so aggressive even though they were losing 3-0. Then, Pittsburgh scored early in Period 2, making
the score 4-0 for the Penguins. While it
is not impossible for Nashville to come back from a three-goal deficit, after that,
it becomes extremely difficult.
Nashville has their work cut out for them tonight. Then, Phil Kessel scored in Period 2, making
the score 5-0 for the Penguins. Now,
unless Pittsburgh screws up royally, Nashville will probably lose this game. And, we’re only halfway through the
game. Anything can still happen to
change what we think the outcome will be.
Finally, Pittsburgh scored for
the third time in Period 2, making the score 6-0 for the Penguins.
I wonder what the Predators are going to do about
their goalie, Pekka Rinne, who is not having a very good night. We’ll see what happens in Period 3. The thing about Rinne, he is doing his part
and, mostly, doing it well. It would not
be fair for Nashville to blame only him for the score of this game. Rinne has kept Nashville in the series so
far! In fact, it’s doubtful that
Nashville would ever have made it into the Stanley Cup Final without him. It’s quite the accomplishment that Nashville
made it for the very first time to the Stanley Cup Final this year. So, it will be interesting to see what
happens in Period 3 tonight and then in Game 6 in Nashville.
As it happened, the Predators coach, Peter
Laviolette, took Pekka Rinne out for the rest of Game 5 to help him relax,
while Juuse Saros, the backup goalie, took over for Period 3. I think this was a good move. I hope Rinne can relax over the next two days
until Game 6. According to
sportscasters, he may be able to relax physically more easily than
mentally. Rinne must prepare himself for
Game 6 mentally, which may not be a very easy thing to do, but is necessary if
the Predators are to have any chance at all in the remaining games. In fact, every single team member of the
Predators will have to prepare himself, especially mentally, for Game 6. This is the game in which the Penguins could
win the Stanley Cup, so they will come out fighting with everything they have.
In Period 3, there was no further scoring, so the
final score was 6-0. Pittsburgh is happy. Matt Murray, the Penguins goalie, got a
shutout tonight, his second of the playoffs and his third of his young
career. He is only twenty-three. But, the Predators will probably try to put
this game behind them as soon as possible and make themselves as ready as
possible for Game 6 on June 11th.
So, Pittsburgh is going to have to do the same and get themselves ready
for Game 6. This is a pivotal game
because the Penguins could win the Stanley Cup after Game 6 is over. Meanwhile, the series stands at 3-2 for
Pittsburgh until Game 6 is played.
Game
6, on June 11th, took place in Nashville. This will be the last game of the post-season
if Pittsburgh wins tonight. If the
Predators win, there will be a Game 7 on June 14th. For Nashville, this game is a “must win”
game; they face elimination if they lose.
One of the Predators’ top defencemen, Ryan Ellis, was injured and not
initially on the list to play tonight, but then changed his mind and is
playing. The Predators No. 1 goalie,
Pekka Rinne, is back in goal tonight.
Hopefully, he’s been able to prepare himself mentally for this game. Nashville has the home-ice advantage and this
is a huge factor in the Predators’ favour.
There are tens of thousands watching this game tonight. Many of them are standing-room-only just
outside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
There was no scoring at all in Period 1 although
Sidney Crosby came close near the end.
Then, in Period 2, there was more frantic shooting when the Predators actually
scored, but the goal was disallowed. I
think it had something to do with the Penguins goalie, Matt Murray, not being
able to get back in place in the crease before the shot was taken. Too bad for the Predators. So, the score is still 0-0 going into the
second half of Period 2. Both teams are
strong defensively and offensively. Both
goalies are “on” tonight, so it’s hard to get anything past either one of them. If this trend continues into Period 3, it
looks like overtime will be required.
Imagine winning the Stanley Cup in overtime!
In Period 3, the trend continues. The score stands at 0-0 for most of the
period. Pittsburgh would love to win
tonight since the Stanley Cup is the prize to be won! However, Nashville is not making it easy for
Pittsburgh and the Predators have to win tonight in order to go to Game 7. But, at about 1:35 of Period 3, just as
everyone is wondering what’s going to happen, Pittsburgh scores! At first, Nashville’s coach challenged it,
but was unsuccessful. Then, Nashville
pulled their goalie to get the extra attacker, but Pittsburgh scored shorthanded
on the empty net! Thus, the final score
ends up being 2-0 for Pittsburgh!
The Penguins have won the Stanley Cup in six games,
as predicted, and I’m real happy for them and for Sidney Crosby, their
captain. No doubt, Sidney will win many
more personal awards as well, but the one he really wants is his tonight! To begin with, the first personal award
Sidney wins is the “Stanley Cup playoffs MVP” award, which he graciously
accepts.
Then, as he is presented with the Stanley Cup for
the Penguins, he joyfully yells out loud, holds the Cup overhead, and kisses
it. Afterward, he passes it on to the
other Penguins who do the same. They are
all ecstatically happy and they should be.
They have all worked very hard and suffered continually with injuries
and lost sleep and now, they are finally the winners of the top prize in pro
sports: the Stanley Cup.
As for the Predators, they gave the Penguins a real
run for their money. They were excellent
defensively and almost as good offensively.
They fought hard and held back the Penguins as well as they could. And, since it was their very first Stanley
Cup Final, that alone is a really special achievement. Hopefully, there will be more future Stanley
Cup Finals for this up-and-coming hockey team.
copyright 2017 - Anne Shier
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