Nashville Predators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 1, Monday, May 29th, Preds @ Pens, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC

Game 2 Wednesday, May 31st, Preds @ Pens, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC Sports Network

Game 3, Saturday, June 3rd, Pens @ Preds, 7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET, NBCSN

Game 4 Monday, June 5th, Pens @ Preds, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC

Game 5, Thursday, June 8th, Preds @ Pens, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC

Game 6, Sunday, June 11th, Pens @ Preds, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC

Game 7, Wednesday, June 14th, Preds @ Pens, 7 PM CT/8 PM ET, NBC

Analysis: 

These 2 teams have been superb in the postseason. Pittsburgh, the defending Stanley Cup champions, just got through a tough, hard-nosed Ottawa Senators last night in double overtime, 3-2, to advance. Nashville got here after winning in 6 over the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville also swept the awesome Chicago Blackhawks in their first round series, 4-0. The resilient Penguins defeated the Washington Caps, 4-3, in the second round. The Caps won the regular season President’s Trophy for the best regular season record in the NHL, but the Penguins seem to have their number in the playoffs. The Penguins feature the superb Sydney Crosby, possibly the best position player in the game today. Nashville feature a scrappy defensive and a lightning fast offensive team with a spectacular goaltender. Both Mike Sullivan of the Penguins and Peter Laviolatte of the Predators are exceptional coaches.

Prediction

I really love the resiliency of both these teams. They’ve endured a rash of injuries throughout the playoffs and have been spectacular in matriculating through the 2017 Stanley Cup postseason. I am a huge fan of Crosby and Phil Kessel and the hard nosed Penguins, but the Preds getting through the West and demolishing the Blackhawks in the first round is more than impressive. I’m going to go with this amazing story in Nashville and their sensational goalie, the 34 year old from Kempele, Finland, Pekke Rinne, to get Nashville its first Stanley Cup trophy.

Predators in 6

Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, most valuable player in the playoffs: 

Pekka Rinne