Drought can’t stop Pens

Post Game 1 win despite 37 minutes without a shot

PITTSBURGH — Awakening from a slumber after going 37 minutes without taking a shot on goal, the Penguins proved they hadn’t forgotten how to shoot and score after all.

Rookie Jake Guentzel broke a tie by scoring from the right side 16 minutes, 43 seconds into the third period, ending the Penguins’ bizarre offensive lull and launching them to a 5-3 victory over the Predators in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.

Nick Bonino scored into an empty net with 1:02 left to secure the victory for the Penguins, who are trying to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Red Wings won consecutive championships in 1997 and 1998.

Game 2 will be Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins were not credited with a shot on goal in the second period, making the Predators the first team to hold an opponent to no shots in a period of a Cup finals game since the NHL began tracking shots on goal in the 1957-58 season.

The Predators appeared to have scored first, at 7:13 of the first period, when a shot by P.K. Subban from the top of the right circle got past Penguins goaltender Matt Murray.

But the Penguins challenged the play on the basis that it was offside, and after a lengthy review their claim was upheld and the goal was waved off.

That seemed to awaken the Penguins. Gifted a five-on-three advantage when Calle Jarnkrok was called for interference and James Neal was penalized for cross-checking at 13:50, the Penguins took the lead on a shot by Evgeni Malkin from just above the right circle. His shot snaked over the left leg of Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne.

The Penguins doubled their lead to 2-0 on a beautiful passing play that was capped when Chris Kunitz, on the left side, found Conor Sheary on the right side.

That lead became 3-0 when Rinne stopped a shot by Bonino but couldn’t control the rebound, which caromed off the leg of Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm and into the net at 19:43.