New York: The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a superb fightback and a bizarre delay caused by a dead catfish to defeat the Nashville Predators in their Stanley Cup Final series opener on Monday.
Two late goals from Jake Guentzel and Nick Bonino clinched a dramatic victory for Pittsburgh in front of their home fans after Nashville had fought back from 3-0 down to level in the third period.
The win gives the reigning Stanley Cup champions precious momentum as they head into Game 2 on Thursday, also in Pittsburgh.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan admitted his team had struggled for long periods.
“We know that we have to be better, that we got outplayed in a lot of aspects of the game for stretches of time, and our expectation is higher for ourselves,” Sullivan said.
“In some ways are we certainly pleased with the result? Yes. But also, I think we trust the leadership of the group that we have. They know we weren’t at our best. None of us in our dressing room are fooled by the score tonight.
“This is something we’ll learn from and we’ll try to make sure that we respond the right way for Game 2.”
Predators counterpart Peter Laviolette said a disallowed goal in the first period had proved decisive.
“The impact of that moment, then the chain of events that happened after that with the penalty kills I think changed the course of the game,” said Laviolette, who nevertheless did not agree with suggestions that the Penguins had stolen victory.
“They won the game,” he said. “You know, I’d rather be up 1-0 and having my guys say we stole. It’s not about that. They got the win tonight. Just cuts down our opportunities to win four games. So next game will be important for us.”
The Penguins rode their luck in the first period and were helped by some favourable calls while roaring into a 3-0 lead to leave Nashville stunned.
Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring with a long-range effort, but the Penguins were fortunate not to be penalised for what looked like an elbow by Sidney Crosby on Mattias Ekholm in the buildup.
Conor Sheary then tapped into an empty net after a sublime pass from Chris Kunitz to make it 2-0 as the Predators struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Bonino made it 3-0, powering down the right flank and sending the puck skidding low into the centre where it cannoned into the net off the cowering Ekholm.
The early part of the second period was held up by a bizarre delay when a Predators fan hurled a dead catfish onto the ice, part of a long-standing tradition that has endured despite attempts by authorities to prevent it.
Yet the incident was to prove the catalyst for a Nashville rally which began with Ryan Ellis’s strike from distance.
The momentum carried over into the third period with the Predators in control once again after a second period that saw them restrict the Pens to zero shots on goal.
This time they made the dominance count when Colton Sissons bundled in from close range to make it 3-2 before Frederick Gaudreau levelled.
But just when it looked like Nashville were on the verge of an improbable comeback, a moment of brilliance from Guentzel swung the game back in the Penguins’ favour, the 22-year-old lashing in to beat Pekka Rinne and make it 4-3.
With time running out, Bonino slid the puck into an empty net to complete the scoring.
