Penguins take 2-0 series lead over Predators

The most powerful offence in hockey is proving too much for Pekka Rinne to handle.

The Penguins erupted for three goals in the first three minutes 30 seconds of the third period, ending Rinne’s night en route to a 4-1 win in Game 2 and 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup final. Rinne had been the hottest goalie in the playoffs coming into the final, but he’s been hit for eight goals on only 36 shots in two games and badly outplayed by Matt Murray, who finished with 37 saves in Game 2.

“Pekka has been excellent for us all year long,” Preds head coach Peter Laviolette said. “There’s things that we could have done. All three goals in the third period were odd-man rushes.”

Leading the way in that respect for Pittsburgh was Jake Guentzel, who added two more goals Wednesday to his NHL-leading total (12) this spring.

The 22-year-old tied the game 1-1 in the opening frame and then sparked the third period avalanche by beating Rinne 10 seconds in. Guentzel has the second-most goals ever for a rookie in one post-season and set a new rookie record with his fifth game-winning goal.

He’s only two points (19) from matching the rookie mark for points in a single playoff, now with 19 points in 21 games.

“He’s just continued to get better,” Sidney Crosby said of his on-again, off-again linemate. “He’s been given a lot of responsibility and he’s done a great job of just continuing to improve and compete.”