Preds need stars to step up
NASHVILLE — The last time we checked, the Nashville Predators did not have a Sidney Crosby in their lineup. Nor do they have an Evgeni Malkin or a Phil Kessel or even a Jake Guentzel. Not many do. But what the Predators do have is a roster full of players who are capable of collectively stepping up and taking a game over. We saw it in Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup final, when goalie Pekka Rinne allowed two goals combined, the defence limited Pittsburgh’s big guns to little to no shots and players like Frederic Gaudreau and Calle Jarnkrok became unlikely heroes.
Nashville will need more of that in Game 6 on Sunday if it hopes to force a deciding Game 7.
After all, it wasn’t just Crosby (three assists) who shined for Pittsburgh on Thursday night. From Malkin (goal and an assist) and Kessel (goal and two assists) to goals from Justin Schultz and Ron Hainsey to a shutout performance from Matt Murray, everyone in a Penguins jersey stepped up.
Here are five players that Nashville will be counting on for similar performances in Game 6: him,” said Predators head coach Peter Laviolette. “We’ve just got to do a better job in front of him.” the other way. Then again, a big goal wouldn’t be bad either.
It was a rough night for Predators’ defence on Thursday. But don’t include Josi in that category. Though he lost defence partner Ryan Ellis in the first couple of minutes of the second period, he didn’t lose a step. In fact, Josi wasn’t on the ice for a single one of Pittsburgh’s goals. That’s pretty good, considering he played nearly 25 minutes, often against Crosby’s line. Still, it wasn’t the result Josi was looking for. And by the end of the night, he was trying to fight Malkin. With Ellis’ status up in the air, Josi will need to bring that same attitude to Game 6 as well as his usual offensive game — he has a goal and three assists in the series — if Nashville hopes to rebound.