Cnotes 2017 Stanley Cup Championship Trends-Stats-Picks-News !

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Wrong number text leads couple to free Stanley Cup tickets
June 2, 2017

PITTSBURGH (AP) A text message sent to the wrong number led to a Pittsburgh couple scoring free tickets to see the Penguins play Game 2 in the Stanley Cup Final.

KDKA-TV reports (http://cbsloc.al/2sjMRoJ ) Amy Santora received a text offering four tickets to Wednesday night's game against Nashville. She called the number, and the man at the other end said he sent the text to the wrong number.

Santora says the man called her back a few minutes later, saying the text's intended recipient only wanted one set of the tickets.

The tickets were priced at $329. The man told Santora she could have them for free.

Santora and her husband took the man up on his offer, finding seats behind the goalie.

As for the mystery texter, Santora says ''whoever you are, thank you.''

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Saturday’s six-pack

Early pointspreads on some interesting college football games this fall:

— Sept 9: Oklahoma @ Ohio State (-8)

— Sept 16: Texas @ USC (-12)

— Sept 23: Arkansas vs Texas A&M (-10) (@ Arlington)

— Oct 7: Michigan State @ Michigan (-15)

— Oct 21 USC (-6.5) @ Notre Dame

— Oct 28: Georgia (-3) vs Florida (@ Jacksonville)

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Saturday’s List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here……

13) Davidson College is in the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time in 115 years; they upset North Carolina on Friday. Apparently their best pitcher is a 5-10 kid named Durin O’Linger who is a very good pitcher but not a pro prospect— great student, going to go to pharmacy school next. Terrific story.

Mr O’Linger threw 140 pitches in a game on May 24, then threw 51 more two days later. On the 27th, he threw 45 more pitches, then threw 92 against the Tar Heels yesterday.

All of this ignited a small firestorm on Twitter ignited by ESPN’s Keith Law, who went after the Davidson coach for abusing the kid’s arm. Couple of his ex-teammates objected strongly to that. It is an interesting debate; the kid will never play pro baseball, and he wants to make history for his school, with his friends. It is the kid’s choice, yes?

12) Westgate Casino in Las Vegas has a $1,500 NFL SuperContest every year; you pick five NFL games a week, and there are prizes— first place has been as much as $900,000 in the past.

This year, they’re adding a new angle; a separate $5,000 “Gold” SuperContest where there is only one winner— curious to see how many people sign up for that event.

11) From ESPN: Clayton Kershaw has been the betting favorite in his last 150 starts; next longest active streak is Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland (29).

10) 14 college freshmen were drafted by NBA teams last June; 20 are expected to be selected this year.

9) Lebron James is in his 8th NBA Final; his team has been underdog in six of those eight.

8) Cleveland Cavaliers are still paying former head coach Mike Brown, who is the interim head coach of the Warriors right now.

7) Mets’ catcher Travis d’Arnaud says he uses a different bat every day, often times one that belongs to a teammate. Mets’ TV guy Keith Hernandez said he never heard of that before.

Best wishes to Hernandez by the way; he had knee replacement surgery Friday.

6) Cubs had bases loaded, one out in 6th inning Friday and they pinch-hit for Kyle Schwarber. Baseball is a tough game. Schwarber is hitting .139 vs lefties this season.

5) Marlins’ 1B Justin Bour stole his first career base Thursday, in his 310th career game.

4) Las Vegas Golden Knights have been posted at 200-1 to win the Stanley Cup next season; they don’t have any players yet- they’re an expansion team. Who would bet on them?

3) Quincy McKnight averaged 18.9 pts/game at Sacred Heart last year but will transfer to Seton Hall, as big $$$ schools continue to poach good players from low D-I programs. McKnight will sit next year, then have two years left to play.

2) If you don’t think medicine and science are bleeping amazing, consider this; Hall of Famer Rod Carew was on TV during the Twins-Angels game Thursday night. He had both a heart transplant and a kidney transplant earlier this year, now says he feels good. Great to hear!!!

1) Kansas State WR Corey Sutton got a release from his scholarship, can go anywhere he likes now; K-State had originally blocked his transfer, but it was becoming a PR debacle so the school relented and he is gone.

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Saturday's Best Bet
June 2, 2017

NHL Stanley Cup Finals Best Bet

Pittsburgh vs. Nashville – Game 3

Sportsbook.ag Odds: Pittsburgh (+120), Nashville (-140); Total set at 5.5

After going 2-0 and cashing the selections for Game 1 and Game 2 already in these Stanley Cup Finals as the series shifts to Nashville. The Predators have been the better team overall for the large majority of this series, yet, brief physical and mental lapses have cost them dearly.

The scary thing in that regard for Nashville fans is the notion that Pittsburgh can play much better still and they are the ones with the 2-0 series lead. Can Nashville get back into it in Game 3, or will it become basically a formality that the Penguins defend their crown?

Odds per - Sportsbook.ag

Best Bet: Nashville Predators ML (-140)

The biggest question mark surrounding this selection is the question of if the Nashville Predators go back to Pekka Rinne between the pipes here. Rinne has had a couple of rough outings in these Stanley Cup Finals so far, but it's tough to see the Predators not going back with the veteran goalie in this game.

For one, Rinne is a big part of why the Predators are still playing hockey right now and there is still a bit of room left on the leash in that regard. Secondly, it's going to be really tough to give backup Juuse Saros his first ever playoff start in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, down 0-2 in the series.

When Pittsburgh decided to change to Matt Murray last round, it wasn't like they were going to a guy who didn't have past playoff success to bank on. That's not really the case in Nashville and the Preds are likely going to sink or swim with Rinne in net the rest of the way.

Even if it there is a goalie switch (the line will likely drop a touch but I still like the play), the fact that Nashville has dominated the bulk of action and don't have a win to show for it yet should be rectified in Game 3. The Preds just have so much more confidence in their own building, and being a desperate bunch in Game 3, the home crowd should be enough to put the Preds over the top here.

That story won't be the same for Game 4 regardless of what happens in Game 3, but Nashville absolutely has to come out with everything right from the outset, and hope Rinne (or whomever is in net) can hold up their end of the bargain. Rinne has allowed 1 goal or less in five of Nashville's eight home games, so the odds of him rebounding in familiar territory are quite high.

P.K Subban's guarantee aside, Game 3 is one the Predators absolutely have to have if they want any realistic hope of getting back into this series. They've already been the better team on the ice for the majority of the time, and if they can continue in that regard, it will help Nashville make their own good luck.

Nashville has scored at least 2 goals in every playoff home game so far this spring, and if they can hit that mark early and play for a lead for the first time in this series, we should see a much more confident Predators team the rest of the way. Remember, this is the first series they've trailed in this spring, and they've yet to officially lead at any point in the first two games of this series. A return home is that kick in the pants this Nashville team needs to get over the hump and get a W.

Pittsburgh understands that Nashville will start Game 3 with guns blazing, but given how the bulk of play has gone so far, I'm not sure Pittsburgh can do anything to withstand it. The Penguins have been far from their high standards, but Nashville's speed and physicality have completely frustrated the Penguins for long stretches of time, and if the Pens are forced to play uphill for the first time in this series, they simply might not have enough to push back – unless Nashville suffers another one of those 5 minute lapses.

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How catfish toss came to be Preds thing
June 2, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Detroit Red Wings fans have their octopi. The Panthers' faithful in Florida had the ''rat trick.''

Nashville? The Predators have catfish, the Southern staple that has become a beloved badge of honor fans delight in throwing onto the ice for good luck.

Who started Music City's slippery tradition? This fish tale stretches from the home of one of the Original Six NHL franchises to what once was one of Nashville's seediest neighborhoods a generation ago, following the long and twisting path of a man who has been a country music drummer, disc jockey, chef and restaurant owner. And, as he tells it, Nashville's original catfish chucker.

That man is Bob Wolf, and he feels his need for secrecy finally is at an end.

''It's been 20 years almost, and it's time,'' Wolf said.

Indeed it is. The Predators are about to host their first Stanley Cup Final game, on Saturday night. Pittsburgh leads the best-of-seven series 2-0, but that's another story.

Nashville's catfish tradition is well known around here, but it became national news earlier this week thanks to Jacob Waddell, 36 .

After an extraordinary effort to conceal a flattened catfish on his person, Waddell threw it onto the ice - in Pittsburgh - on Monday night. The Predators then scored three goals before Pittsburgh pulled out a 5-3 win in the opener. Waddell was charged with disorderly conduct, possessing instruments of crime and disrupting meetings or processions before they were withdrawn.

Wolf, of course, watched all this from afar with some measure of satisfaction.

He says the idea to toss a catfish grew out a discussion at Wolfy's during the Predators' inaugural season, back in 1998-99. Wolf is a Rangers' fan born in Brooklyn who had played drums for Johnny Paycheck and others before going into the restaurant business in Nashville. He helped open the restaurant bearing his name across from renowned honky-tonk Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. He also lobbied Nashville to build an arena on the other corner to spur redevelopment of what then was a neighborhood down on its luck.

Back then, he served burgers to construction workers and the Predators' new owner, Craig Leipold. Once Nashville landed an NHL expansion franchise, Wolfy's became a go-to stop for fans and players. There were also a fair number of Red Wings fans in the area, thanks to General Motors' nearby Saturn plant and the automaker's close ties to Detroit.

The Red Wings immediately became Nashville's biggest foe.

A couple days before Detroit's visit in January 1999, Wolf said, he sat with friends looking for a uniquely Tennessee answer to the Red Wings' storied octopus tradition. Jack Daniel's whiskey was too precious. Guitar picks way too small. Wolf's inspiration came when he walked outside and looked down Broadway to the Cumberland River.

Catfish!

Wolf bought a nine-pound catfish and wrapped it in newspaper and plastic wrap. On Jan. 26, 1999, Wolf tucked the catfish underneath his Predators' jersey, walked in and waited for Nashville's first goal. The stench started wafting around him until the Preds' lone goal in what ended up a 4-1 loss.

Wolf said he tossed the catfish, then ran up the aisle. Friends around the arena provided cover and a distraction by running as well.

''The first time I saw the catfish flop on the ice, we were playing Detroit so I thought it was an octopus,'' Leipold, now owner of the Minnesota Wild, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. ''I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it was a catfish. I figured that it had to be one of our fans mocking the Red Wings. I was not disappointed.''

Wolf said Leipold, still a close friend, did not know about the catfish. With a small bar inside the arena, Wolf said he knew where to hide from security, too.

''It wasn't meant to be anything but fun and answer Detroit's call to their octopus,'' said Wolf, now semi-retired and living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. ''`Hey, we're the new Southern team on the ice, and we're going to throw a catfish on the ice.' That was kind of the attitude that day.''

Nashville was hooked. The catfish caught on. The tradition became so popular that officials started handing out delay of game penalties against the Predators, which put things on ice for a while.

With the Predators' in the playoffs for the 10th time in 13 years, there has been a catfish comeback. Dead fish have never been so popular.

Five hit the ice one night early in the playoffs. The offensive linemen of the NFL's Tennessee Titans held up catfish while revving up fans before another game. Country star Keith Urban even held up a catfish, and the linemen had more catfish for Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. When Colton Sissons finished a hat trick, left tackle Taylor Lewan celebrated by throwing a catfish instead of a hat.

Little Fish Market in Nashville was offering a free catfish to fans with a ticket to Game 3 or Game 4 - that's $1.95 a pound, including head, skin and guts.

The Predators don't discuss security procedures, and it's not clear how many catfish will be in attendance - in secret or otherwise - at Games 3 and 4. No etiquette exists for the best time to throw a catfish, though fans have largely avoided throwing them on the ice during play this season. It essentially gives the other team a free timeout, after all, and there's that threat of putting the other team on a power play.

Tossing catfish during pregame festivities appears to work best for fans, with one caveat: Don't hit the anthem singer.

Pete Weber, the Predators' radio play-by-play man, loves explaining to outsiders why Nashville fans toss a catfish.

''I really tend to get tickled when I see a catfish go over the glass,'' Weber said. ''I absolutely love that.''

Wolf marvels at the Predators' success and the tradition that started with a single fish.

''The idea was to keep it a secret, and obviously we did a good job until the Pittsburgh fish,'' Wolf said. ''And this story has to get out. It's a fun story, and it sets the record straight.''

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Pens' Nick Bonino on crutches, game-time decision for Game 3
June 2, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Pittsburgh center Nick Bonino was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and using crutches Friday, raising the possibility that he will not play in Nashville in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said the veteran has a lower-body injury and will be a game-time decision against the Predators on Saturday night. Team captain Sidney Crosby said everybody's banged up at this time of year on both teams.

''I think everyone's prepared regardless of who's in,'' Crosby said. ''Everyone's going to do whatever it takes to make sure they can play. And if not, then someone else who steps in is ready to take on that challenge.''

The Predators have been without their top center Ryan Johansen the past four games, and he won't be back until next season after needing emergency surgery for acute compartment syndrome in his left thigh.

Bonino plays on Pittsburgh's fourth line, but the veteran is a key penalty killer. He had a slap shot from Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban go off the inside of his left ankle in Pittsburgh's 4-1 win Wednesday night while on the ice helping kill a big penalty. Bonino went to the locker room but returned to finish the game.

He walked into the hotel where the Penguins are staying in Nashville using crutches, though he stopped and signed a couple autographs on his way in. If Bonino can't play, then Carl Hagelin could be an option for Sullivan after sitting out the first two games of this series.

Sullivan said the Penguins have yet to play their best yet and isn't tipping his hand on any changes he might make even with Pittsburgh up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

''We're trying to make it decisions whether it be defense pairs or line combinations that make us the most competitive team,'' Sullivan said.

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette also refused to talk about any lineup changes he might make, including at goaltender. Pekka Rinne is 7-1 at Bridgestone Arena this postseason with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, but he has looked average in the first two games of the Final.

Laviolette's other option is a 22-year-old rookie, Juuse Saros, who made his NHL postseason debut in relief Wednesday night after Rinne gave up three goals in the first 3:28 of the third period . Rinne has an ugly .778 save percentage in losing the two games in Pittsburgh.

The coach played two goalies the last time he took a team to the Stanley Cup Final, using both Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher when Laviolette's Philadelphia Flyers lost the Cup to Chicago in six games.

''When the decision is made, it's my decision,'' Laviolette said.

Rinne told reporters he knows who is starting in net for the Predators.

''I'm going to keep it a secret, I guess,'' Rinne said.

The 6-foot-5 Finn, a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist, has enjoyed the two-day break between games. He's also expecting a boost from the home fans as well.

''I feel like this postseason there's been plenty of time, a lot of games when we've been down and have come back from behind in the third period, and I feel like a lot of it is credit to our fans, the energy we have in the building,'' Rinne said. ''It's amazing support, and we really appreciate it.''

Rinne downplayed all the questions, saying it's been like someone died. The veteran was not going to share how he's tried to clear his head and refocus.

''The last two games haven't gone the way I've wanted them to go, and I know the stakes are high, it's the finals and everything,'' Rinne said. ''But I'm still feeling confident. I feel comfortable out there. I do the same preparations as I always do before the games.''

His teammates can help him out by staying out of the penalty box. The highest-scoring team in the regular season and postseason has scored nine goals against Nashville despite being just 1 of 10 on the power play.

''They pressure a lot,'' Crosby said of the Predators. ''They're trying to force mistakes. Once you make a little mistake, they're jumping, making a play on you.''

Traipsing to the penalty box can drain the energy Nashville needs to keep pace with the Penguins.

''Cleaning up just a few mistakes, that would help,'' Laviolette said.

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Pens, Preds face unusual extra time off
June 2, 2017

Time is on the Pittsburgh Penguins' side, with or without momentum.

Up 2-0 on the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Final, the defending champions have no problem with the schedule that would require 17 days to complete the series if it goes seven games. That's how the Penguins won the Cup a year ago, following this exact pattern in beating the San Jose Sharks.

''It's tough to know what it's all about until you go through it and we were able to go through it last year,'' goaltender Matt Murray said. ''(You learn about) a lot of little things: How to deal with travel is one of them, how to deal with an opposing building is another one.''

More than anything, the Penguins know how to deal with time off that more resembles a playoff series in the NBA than the NHL. While the NBA Finals would take 18 days to complete if the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers go seven, this Cup Final is an anomaly.

Since the salary-cap era began in 2006, only the 2016 and 2017 Cup Final series have been spread out over more than 15 days. No series in the first three rounds this spring was scheduled for more than 15 days, and all this following a super condensed schedule because of the World Cup and bye weeks that squished an 82-game regular season into 180 days.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan considers it a benefit because banged-up and tired players get an extra 24 hours to rest. He doesn't think it does anything for momentum, which a lot of coaches don't believe in, anyway.

''I'm not sure it's much different than some of the other series that we've been involved with, other than the rest component,'' Sullivan said. ''My experience of going through these playoff runs in the past has been that each game is its own entity. It seems to take on its own story.''

The story for the Penguins is that they endured seven-game series in the second and third rounds, needing double overtime to beat the Ottawa Senators four days before the start of the Cup Final. The Predators had a week off after eliminating the Anaheim Ducks in six but still stand to benefit from the schedule, which provides two days between games every time there's travel involved.

''I think it's good for everybody,'' said Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne, who allowed eight goals on 36 shots in the first two games against Pittsburgh. ''At this point of the season it's June and we're fortunate to play hockey still. It's pretty demanding right now, so any day you get to recover and regroup, I think it's beneficial.''

The extra time off may do little for Predators forward Colin Wilson, who remained off ice Friday because of a lower-body injury. The same goes for Penguins center Nick Bonino, who took a shot from P.K. Subban off the left ankle or foot in Game 2, returned but did not take part in their final full practice before Game 3 Saturday night in Nashville.

Bonino was in a walking boot and getting around on crutches Friday. He's considered a game-time decision , and center Matt Cullen said: ''Bones is a huge part of everything we do. We all hope he's ready to go, and if not we're going to have to fill a big hole.''

With almost everyone banged up at this time of year, perhaps it doesn't hurt either team to have some time off. It's downright basketball-like , but as NBA commissioner Adam Silver pointed out in his league, ''There's a direct correlation between fatigue and injury on the part of the players.''

So the Penguins and Predators will just have to take the unfamiliar schedule and make the most of it.

''I think just use it to your advantage,'' Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. ''You can look at it a couple different ways. You get the rest, which is obvious with the day off. As far as preparing, adjusting, all those little things, you get a chance to practice today, which is kind of rare throughout a playoff series. Usually you're getting a day off, maybe a morning skate. To actually go through a practice, go through things you want to adjust, that kind of thing, I think that goes a long way, too.''

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Pens' Hagelin ready if Bonino can't go
June 2, 2017

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Carl Hagelin told reporters he's ready to step in for the injured Nick Bonino if needed for Saturday's Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the host Nashville Predators.

Hagelin has been scratched for the first two contests of the Stanley Cup Final -- both Pittsburgh victories -- but could find himself on the ice with Bonino using crutches and wearing a walking boot on his left leg on Friday.

Coach Mike Sullivan said that Bonino will be a game-time decision on Saturday as he nurses the lower-body injury, which was sustained while blocking a P.K. Subban shot during Wednesday's 4-1 victory in Game 2.

"First when you find out, it's disappointing, you're frustrated, you're (ticked) off," Hagelin said of sitting out. "But it's the Stanley Cup Final, it's not about me, it's about the team, so whenever you get the chance, you've got to be ready."

Hagelin has been dealing with conditioning issues since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Winnipeg Jets on March 10. The 28-year-old Swede missed the last 16 games of the regular season and the first six of the playoffs before he returned for five contests in the second round against the Washington Capitals.

He sat out the next two games before playing the last six contests of the Eastern Conference final vs. the Ottawa Senators.

Hagelin skated on a line with veteran Matt Cullen and former Predator Patric Hornqvist during Friday's practice. Carter Rowney took Bonino's spot at center between Conor Sheary and Scott Wilson.

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NHL playoffs

Game 3

Pittsburgh won first two Finals games at home; they’re 10-2 in last 12 games with Nashville- four of last five series games went over. Predators won four of its last five home games; under is 7-3-2 in their last 11 games, 3-1-1 in last five at home. Pittsburgh is 2-3 in last five road games, scoring total of nine goals. Under is 4-3-2 in their last nine games. Penguins won Cup LY and in 2009; they’re 4-1 overall in Stanley Cup final series. Nashville is in its first Stanley Cup final.

Stanley Cup final

Nashville-Pittsburgh

Pitt 5-3, -$160, O5.5

Pitt 4-1, -$140, U5.5

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Penguins' counterattacking style demoralizing to opponents
June 3, 2017

Through two games of the Stanley Cup Final, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been badly outshot, lost the majority of faceoffs and had the puck far less than the Nashville Predators.

Yet, they lead the series 2-0, following a familiar script.

The Penguins frustrated the Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators with this unconventional method of winning. They're doing it again, needing just two more victories to win back-to-back championships.

The Penguins scored three goals in a span of 3:08 in the third period of Game 2. Pittsburgh won despite a 37-minute shot drought in Game 1.

''It's amazing,'' Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. ''You've got to give Pittsburgh some credit here because they keep doing it. They get outplayed for long stretches, and then they counterattack and then they execute on the counterattack. They make the best of their scoring opportunities, and it seems to be a consistent pattern.''

It's a winning pattern that that could make Pittsburgh just the third team since the start of the salary-cap era in 2006 to be outshot and win the Cup, following the 2011 Boston Bruins and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks.

The Penguins lost 44 of 77 faceoffs in Game 2 to fall under 50 percent for the series at 66-68. They've allowed 64 shots and taken 39 and been out-attempted 86-57 at 5-on-5 and are 1 of 10 on the power play.

Nashville has controlled the play so far with nothing to show for it.

''We can't just look at the numbers and say, `Yeah, we're winning all the numbers but the scoreboard,''' Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday. ''There's got to be things we got to do better.''

The Penguins are already 9-6 in these playoffs when outshot by an opponent, in part because they're scoring on a league-best 10.9 percent of their shots, which if it stands would be second-best among champions in the cap era behind only the 2010 Blackhawks.

That kind of shooting success is difficult to sustain over 82 games but not impossible considering the firepower the Penguins have in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.

''They got three superstars on that team,'' Senators coach Guy Boucher said. ''At some point or another, they're going to get their looks. It's really tough to defend against that.''

It's even tougher when the goaltending can't match up. Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray have combined for a .930 save percentage as Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky put up an .882, Washington's Braden Holtby a .778 and Nashville's Pekka Rinne a .778 of his own through two games.

You can't blame Ottawa's Craig Anderson and his .936 save percentage for not knocking out the Penguins, but there are plenty of other reasons the defending champs are still standing.

Early in the first round, Columbus players called Penguins goals ''lucky'' and ''fluky'' and insisted everything would be all right if they continued to play their game. At one point, captain Nick Foligno said: ''There's so much good that we're doing that it's going to break for us eventually.''

Sound familiar, Nashville? It didn't ever break for the Blue Jackets and they were ousted in five games despite putting 23 more shots on net than the Penguins. There's a reason Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan stresses a ''counterattack mentality.''

Given the Capitals' 61-45 shot advantage through two games, Jay Beagle was asked if he was worried that his teammates sounded an awful lot like the Blue Jackets. Yeah, maybe.

''You can feel like you're dominating them a little bit, dominating play in their zone a lot, and they strike,'' Beagle said. ''They're really good at obviously capitalizing on their opportunities.''

Much like P.K. Subban said after the Predators' Game 2 Cup Final loss that they played well for all but about three crucial minutes, the Capitals tried to fend off similar frustration when seemingly every odd-man rush against was turning into a Penguins goal.

''It's easy to get frustrated when you feel like you played (better),'' said Brooks Orpik, who won the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. ''Whether you outplay a team for 55 minutes and you still have nothing to show for it, I think you've just got to just have belief in what you're doing that over the course of 60 minutes or over time that eventually you're going to get the result that you want.''

After coming back to force a Game 7 and losing on home ice, the Capitals came away from the series believing they were the better team but were outplayed. The Predators are similarly talking now about the Penguins' fortunes on bounces but are trying not to fall into the same trap.

''The chances that we've given up are low; the shot opportunities we've given up are low,'' Laviolette said. ''But yet we're finding ones that I think we can clean up and help take care of some of the situations that we're leaving against an opportunistic team.''

Every opponent can agree: Opportunistic is the best way to describe these Penguins.

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Saturday's NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Betting Preview: Penguins at Predators

Music City has been a safe haven for the Predators, who are 7-1 in these playoffs at Bridgestone Arena and winners of 11 of their past 12 playoff contests.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators (-135, 5.5)

Pens lead series 2-0

Home cookin' traditionally provides a bountiful feast for the Nashville Predators, who hope the change of scenery goes a long way in altering results when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Music City has been a safe haven for the Predators, who are 7-1 in these playoffs at Bridgestone Arena and winners of 11 of their past 12 playoff contests.

Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban is confident that victory will be on the menu Saturday, providing what is tantamount to a guarantee as well as bulletin-board material for his opponent. "There's no question. We're going to win the next game, and then we'll move forward," said the outspoken Subban, who has seen his team outshoot the Penguins 64-39 -- only to be outscored 9-4 in losing the first two contests of the best-of-seven series. Jake Guentzel has been responsible for both game-winning goals of the series, scoring with 3:17 remaining in Game 1 and setting an NHL rookie record for a playoff year with his fifth such tally in Wednesday's 4-1 victory. The 2-0 series lead is a familiar one for Pittsburgh, which also claimed that advantage last year before skating past San Jose in six games to capture its fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS

Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Betting Preview: Penguins at Predators
The Penguins will look to take a commanding 3-0 series in Game 3 Saturday night, but they'll have to contend with a rowdy Nashville crowd as the Predators host their first Stanley Cup final game in franchise history.

LINE HISTORY: The Predators may be down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup final, but they will enter game three as the betting favorites at the sportsbooks. The Preds opened at -140 on the moneyline and that number has come down slightly to -135. The total hit the betting board at 5.5. Check out the complete line history here.

GOALIE MATCHUP: Matt Murray (PIT) vs. Pekka Rinne (NAS)

Murray - GP: 7, W/L: 5-1, 1.54 GAA, .943 SAVE %, 1 SO
Rinne - GP: 18, W/L: 12-6, 1.98 GAA, .929 SAVE %, 2 SO

INJURY REPORT:

Penguins - C N. Bonino (Questionable, lower body), RW T. Kuhnhackl (Questionable, lower body), D C. Ruhwedel (Questionable, concussion), D K. Letang (Out for season, neck).

Predators - LW C. Wilson (Doubtful, undisclosed), C R. Johansen (Out For Season, thigh), LW K. Fiala (Out For Season, leg).

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (64-26-8-5, 56-40 O/U): While the 22-year-old Guentzel leads the league in goals (12), fellow forward Evgeni Malkin added to his advantage in points (26) by scoring a goal in his second straight contest Wednesday to send beleaguered Pekka Rinne to the showers. The 2012 Hart Trophy winner has recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games. Chris Kunitz is doing quite well in his own right by matching a career high with three straight multi-point performances in the playoffs, during which he has collected two goals and five assists.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (53-34-9-4, 45-43 O/U): Although coach Peter Laviolette "politely" reiterated Friday that he and his coaching staff do not publicly discuss lineup changes, Rinne likely will be in net for Game 3 despite being shredded for eight goals on 36 shots in the first two contests. The three-time Vezina Trophy finalist has permitted just 13 tallies en route to winning seven of eight playoff games at Bridgestone Arena to go along with a 1.54 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. "It's going to be a tremendous lift," Laviolette said of playing at home. "I think the playoffs, everything ratchets up and becomes even better, a more explosive environment."

TRENDS:

* Penguins are 8-2 in their last 10 Stanley Cup Final games.
* Predators are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Under is 9-2 in Penguins last 11 Stanley Cup Final games.
* Under is 7-1-3 in Predators last 11 home games.
* Penguins are 10-2 in the last 12 meetings.

CONSENSUS: 64 percent of users are siding with the home favorite Predators and 55 percent of the totals wagers are on the Under.

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NHL
Long Sheet

Saturday, June 3

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PITTSBURGH (64-26-0-13, 141 pts.) at NASHVILLE (53-34-0-13, 119 pts.) - 6/3/2017, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 6-2 (+3.5 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 6-2-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, June 3

Pittsburgh won first two Finals games at home; they’re 10-2 in last 12 games with Nashville- four of last five series games went over. Predators won four of its last five home games; under is 7-3-2 in their last 11 games, 3-1-1 in last five at home. Pittsburgh is 2-3 in last five road games, scoring total of nine goals. Under is 4-3-2 in their last nine games. Penguins won Cup LY and in 2009; they’re 4-1 overall in Stanley Cup final series. Nashville is in its first Stanley Cup final.

Stanley Cup final
Nashville-Pittsburgh
Pitt 5-3, -$160, O5.5
Pitt 4-1, -$140, U5.5




NHL

Saturday, June 3

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. NASHVILLE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing Nashville
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Nashville is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games

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SATURDAY, JUNE 3

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

PIT at NAS 08:00 PM

O 5.5

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Preds rout Pens 5-1, pull within 2-1 in Stanley Cup Final
June 3, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Predators coach Peter Laviolette heard all the questions and criticism of Pekka Rinne after the goaltender's struggles in the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh.

Well, Laviolette never thought of switching goalies.

A change of scenery helped Rinne and all his Nashville teammates as they dominated once again on their own ice for the biggest piece of franchise history yet.

A victory in the Stanley Cup Final.

Roman Josi and Frederick Gaudreau scored 42 seconds apart in the second period, and the Predators beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 Saturday night to pull within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Rinne started and made 27 saves against a Pittsburgh team that continued to struggle on the power play and lacked the same zip they had in winning the first two games at home.

''There was no decision,'' Laviolette said of changing goalies. ''He was terrific. I said that after Game 2. He's been the backbone for our team. He's been excellent. His game tonight was rock solid.''

The Predators capped the biggest party in Nashville history with a victory that gave thousands of fans inside and outside of the arena reason to celebrate. Country star Keith Urban and wife, actress Nicole Kidman, were high-fiving inside the arena and they had plenty of company. Credit Rinne for coming through with a stingy performance and helping the Predators improve to 8-1 at home this postseason.

The 6-foot-5 Finn looked so shaky in the first two games, giving up eight goals on just 36 shots. Laviolette benched him in the third period of Game 2 when Rinne gave up three goals in the first 3:28 of a 4-1 loss.

Rinne said he changed nothing and knew he was playing all the time. Nashville fans did their best to lift his spirits by chanting his name in pre-game warm-ups.

''Collectively we came into the locker room, and we were telling each other we've never seen anything like that,'' Rinne said.

Josi also had two assists. James Neal, Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm also scored for Nashville as the Predators worked out some frustration against the Pens.

''Like our team has done the whole playoffs against Chicago, St. Louis, Anaheim, we showed really good composure,'' said Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban, who had predicted a win in Game 3. ''We're going to take that into the next game.''

Game 4 is Monday night.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said he thought his Penguins gave up a couple of easy goals.

''We're disappointed we didn't get the result, but we also understand that this is a series,'' Sullivan said. ''Our guys, they've been through this. They can draw on their experience. We're not going to let this certainly get us down. We're going to learn from it, move by it and get ready for the next game.''

Captain Sidney Crosby did not have a shot on goal, and neither did Evgeni Malkin.

''Hopefully a game like this is something that's a hard lesson,'' Crosby said. ''But we've got to make sure we're better.''

Jake Guentzel scored his 13th goal this postseason and fourth of this series for Pittsburgh and now is one off Dino Ciccarelli's rookie record of 14 in 1981 for Minnesota. Guentzel, already with two game-winning goals in the series, put the Penguins up 1-0 on their second shot with a wrister off a rebound of Ian Cole that beat Rinne just 2:46 into the game.

Rinne stopped the next 26 shots for the victory and the party continued into the night.

Early on, Matt Murray extended his scoreless streak to 72:54 with the Pittsburgh goalie looking ready to notch his 21st playoff win. Then he gave up five goals in the span of 15 shots and the catfish watch was on.

The Predators got it started with a three-goal flurry in the second.

Josi scored his sixth goal off a slap shot at 5:51, tying it at 1-1 and finally giving nervous fans something to enjoy. Then Gaudreau, who scored his first career NHL goal in Game 1, scored 42 seconds later to put Nashville ahead with his wrister from the high slot, taking advantage of a screen by Penguins defenseman Ian Cole to beat Murray glove-side.

Just after that go-ahead goal, the Penguins had a rush on Rinne, and the three-time Vezina Trophy finalist made back-to-back big saves. First, he stopped Phil Kessel's wrister from the right circle. The rebound bounced back into the slot, and Rinne made a save on Chris Kunitz with an assist from Subban sliding over to help.

Neal made it 3-1 with 22.6 seconds left in the second, banking the puck off Murray's left arm for his first goal in the series and sixth of the playoffs. Smith's goal on a breakaway at 4:54 was his first of the playoffs, and Ekholm padded the lead with a power-play goal with 6:50 left.

''We played some good hockey in those first two games, just a couple little breakdowns and they jumped all over us and it was in the back of the net,'' Neal said. ''It was a good job of limiting that tonight.''

As for Rinne, Neal added: ''We felt we left him out to dry a few times in the last game. I thought we did a better job tonight.''

Notes: Smith is the 18th different Nashville player to score a goal this postseason, and Ekholm became the 19th. ... The Penguins went 0 of 3 on the power play and now are 1 of 13 in this series. ... With an assist, Crosby now has 160 career playoff points (56 goals, 104 assists) and tied Mike Bossy, Gordie Howe, Bobby Smith and Al MacInnis for 20th all-time. ... Laviolette sat veterans Cody McLeod and Vern Fiddler to get more speed with Harry Zolnierczyk and P.A. Parenteau. ... Pittsburgh forward Carl Hagelin played for the first time with center Nick Bonino out after taking a Subban slap shot off his left foot in Game 2 that left him on crutches and in a walking boot.

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Nashville helps Preds' celebrate history with 1st Cup Final
June 3, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The town known as Music City sure knows how to throw a party. Police estimated more than 50,000 turned out to mark a bit of history Saturday night as Nashville hosted the first Stanley Cup Final game ever played in Tennessee.

Fans started pouring into downtown hours before face-off, often shoulder to shoulder, eager to celebrate and do their part to back their beloved team in the best-of-seven series against Pittsburgh.

Someone couldn't wait for Martina McBride to become the latest country star to sing the national anthem before tossing the first catfish onto the ice during warm-ups. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury swept the fish toward the bench with his stick, the first of three catfish tossed before the game started.

Another fan held up a giant stuffed catfish to the delight of the crowd. Hank Williams Jr. waved a towel to rev up fans who had been waiting to yell all day.

By the time the Predators finished off a 5-1 win over the Penguins, a total of five catfish hit the ice to finish off the day in style.

''Coming back home was awesome,'' Predators forward Craig Smith said. ''You could see the crowds outside and how excited people are to be here and excited for the city. It's been a pleasure.''

Nashville has hosted country music award shows, festivals and concerts for decades. The vaunted Ryman Auditorium - known as the Mother Church of country music - had Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Indigo Girls in concert Saturday night. The Ascend Amphitheater five blocks from the Predators' arena had Muse in concert, too.

Alan Jackson, a recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, wore a Predators' T-shirt during his free concert on Broadway where city officials also had TV screens set up for an outdoor viewing party of the game. The park across the street from the arena is blocked off as Nashville prepares to host the CMA Music Festival in a few days.

The Predators have tapped a star to sing the national anthem before each playoff game, starting with Carrie Underwood, wife of captain Mike Fisher, to Luke Brian, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood. PGA golfer Brandt Snedeker and NFL Tennessee Titans' quarterback Marcus Mariota has helped wave the rally towel, further upping the celebrity factor. Underwood watched from a box seat.

Before the game, former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan smashed a car painted up in Penguins' colors before the game with his brother, Rob, watching in front of the arena.

Josh Dodson and Alicia Lopez have been Nashville Predators since getting hooked a couple years ago. So they couldn't miss this even if that meant a three-hour drive over from Knoxville with no chance of getting a ticket to watch the game inside the arena Saturday. The size of the crowd outside turned out to be much bigger than expected.

''We knew it would be a big turnout because even coming to the regular season games, it's always wild,'' Dodson said. ''It's packed all the way down the street into the arena.''

People coming downtown also had to fight against fans of the ''Walking Dead'' TV show with a Walker Stalker fan event being held across the street.

The franchise is in its 19th year and history was made Saturday night, win or lose.

''It's unbelievable the support the city, everything that's going on,'' Fisher said. ''As a player, it's one of the most proud things I am to be a part of this organization and see it grow like this, a hockey market where it's become the loudest building in the NHL.''

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Penguins lose special teams battle, game to Nashville
June 4, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins are still leading the Stanley Cup Final, no thanks to their scuffling power play.

The Penguins went 0-3 with the man advantage in losing Game 3 in Nashville, 5-1. The Predators scored on two of their three power play opportunities.

Coming up empty in six minutes of power play time was tough, but the Penguins only recorded one shot on Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne during that time.

''The power play didn't get enough zone time,'' Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. ''To give them the opportunity on the power play, my feeling or at least my observation coaching these guys, is when they have success on the power play, it helps their overall game, their 5-on-5 game as well. I think it gives them confidence. They feel the puck and we haven't had the success that we would like here in this early part of the series. We've certainly got to figure this out as a group and I believe we will.''

Pittsburgh is a woeful 1 for 13 on the power play in the series, with just four total shots on goal. Nashville is 4 of 10 and the Predators used the power play to climb within 2-1 in the Final ahead of Game 4 on Monday night.

''They pressure really hard and we tried to make plays through them,'' the Penguins' Patric Hornqvist said. ''We have to spread it out a little bit longer. We have to wait for opportunity. We can't force any plays and that's what we did there on all our power plays.''

Forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin led Pittsburgh forwards in power play time in Game 3 with 4 minutes and 3:46, respectively. Neither player generated a shot on goal on the power play - or at any other time in the game either.

''Those are important guys for us,'' Sullivan said. ''We want them to get pucks on the net because they have the ability to score.''

After taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, Pittsburgh fell behind 2-1 after Roman Josi and Frederick Gaudreau beat Matt Murray 42 seconds apart early in the second. Josi's goal came on the power play.

''They got some momentum when they got that power-play goal,'' Crosby said. ''You don't want to give up two quick goals like that. They get one on the power play, but to follow it up with another one and then you don't want to give one up late in the period. Kind of a couple of plays there that really gave them momentum and our own power play needs to be better too. We had opportunities to kind of build on that lead and we didn't.''

Mattias Ekholm concluded the scoring at 13:10 of the third with Nashville's second power-play goal of the game.

The Penguins allowed just two power-play shots on Murray in 4:05 during the game - and both ended up in the back of the net.