Ellis’ status a mystery for Game 6

Defenceman key to Preds’ success on the power play

Will he or won’t he?

Typically, coach Peter Laviolette isn’t saying whether or not defenceman Ryan Ellis will be ready for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.

Ellis left Thursday’s Game 5 in the second period with an undisclosed injury, and didn’t appear in the third period.

Defenceman Mattias Ekholm, keeping the company line, said he didn’t know whether Ellis will be available Sunday night.

Laviolette doesn’t care to play fifth and sixth defencemen Matt Irwin and Yannick Weber much at the best of times, but if Ellis is hurt, one of them will be promoted to the Top Four.

Ellis is significant on the Predators power play and is one of the better offensive defenceman in the NHL.

Everyone covering the Cup wanted to talk to P.K. Subban on Friday after his WWEstyle altercation with Sidney Crosby in Game 5.

Never mind the bad breath comments and the Listerine endorsements, but Subban had his head driven to the ice several times while he was engaged with Crosby.

But typical NHL: Only a few Predators were made available Friday. Subban, never shy to talk about anything, wasn’t one of them.

Nashville centre Colton Sissons was happy to learn his apparent game misconduct earned in Game 5 has been rescinded by the NHL.

Sissons was cross-checking back and forth with Pittsburgh’s Olli Maatta and he explained that his cross-check to Maatta’s face, just below the visor, wasn’t intentional.

“He cross-checked me, I cross-checked him. I wasn’t looking at where it was going. I wasn’t aiming for (his face),” said Sissons. Move over Evgeni Malkin. There’s a new Conn Smythe Trophy favourite.

After setting up three goals in a 6-0 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby moved one point back of Malkin for the playoff scoring lead.

In the process, he might have put his name at the top of the list when it comes time to deciding the playoff MVP.

Malkin has 10 goals and 28 points in 24 games. Crosby, who has played in one less game, has eight goals and 27 points.

Crosby didn’t finish first in scoring during last year’s playoffs — he tied for sixth — but still won the Conn Smythe Trophy with six goals and 19 points. He’s been even better this year, having gone only six of 23 games without a point. He also has eight multi-point games.

“I think Sid really understands the opportunity that this team has, and he’s not taking anything for granted,” said head coach Mike Sullivan.

“He sees the opportunity in front of us, and he’s doing everything within his power to try to help us be successful.”