NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 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 Predators teammates as they dominated 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 on Saturday night to cut their series deficit to 2-1. Rinne started and made 27 saves against a team that continued to struggle on the power play and lacked the same zip it 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 his 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 6-5 Finn looked 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 pregame warmups.
“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 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,” defenseman P.K. Subban said. “We’re going to take that into the next game.”
Game 4 is Monday night.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said he thought his team 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 have been through this. We’re not going to let this get us down.”
Captain Sidney Crosby did not have a shot on goal, and neither did Evgeni Malkin.
Jake Guentzel scored his 13th goal this postseason and fourth of the series for the Penguins. He’s one off Dino Ciccarelli’s rookie record of 14, set in 1981 for the Minnesota North Stars. Guentzel, already with two game-winning goals in the series, put the Penguins up 1-0 on their second shot with a wrister 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, Penguins goalie Matt Murray extended his scoreless streak to 72:54. Then he gave up five goals in the span of 15 shots.
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. Then Gaudreau, who scored his first career NHL goal in Game 1, scored 42 seconds later to put the Predators 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.
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