Jake Guentzel scored the game-winning goal with 3:17 remaining in regulation time as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 5-3 to take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Penguins scored three times in 4:11 span late in the first period to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring with a power-play goal at the 15:32 mark before Conor Sheary and Nick Bonino added on.
Nashville got one back in the second on a Ryan Ellis power-play goal and eventually tied the game after Colton SIssons and Frederick Gaudreau tallied in the third.
Bonino notched his second of the night into an empty-net with 1:02 left to clinch the victory.
Pittsburgh scored its five goals on just 12 shots, the lowest total ever by a winning team in a Stanley Cup Final game. Game 2 is Wednesday night at PPG Paints Arena.
Game 1 Highlights
Not much new with the Florida Panthers. The coaching search remains in a holding pattern while Dale Tallon waits for the Predators to finish up so he can talk to Phil Housley. Look for things to heat once the playoffs conclude and teams start the serious prep for the upcoming expansion draft.
In a piece of good news for hockey fans in the Sunshine State, the NHL announced that the next year’s All-Star Weekend will take place in Tampa at Amalie Arena on January 27-28.