'Epic week': Hockey, country music collide in Nashville

Out long term after neck surgery, Letang isn't a part of this run, but a key adjustment by Hainsey and the other defensemen in the Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators is a major reason why Pittsburgh is one victory away from a second consecutive championship.

Who will sing the national anthem at Bridgestone Arena has become a popular subplot to Panthers home games.

It's likely why he was among the few regulars to skate at an optional Penguins practice early in the Stanley Cup final.

Conor Sheary scored 1:19 into the second period to make it 4-0 over Nashville.

Now, Rinne and the Predators, facing elimination for the first time in the playoffs, will have to win at home on Sunday to extend the series.

Nashville coach Peter Laviolette gave no update on Ellis on Friday.

The Predators are hardly blaming Rinne for their predicament. "We know how good he can be".

Goalie change: Rinne, who endured a rough start to the series but found his rhythm the prior two games, was pulled for Juuse Saros to start the second period. The Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to play Game 4 in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Monday.

About a month ago, people in the National Hockey League offices were anxious - rightfully so - about the broad appeal and marketability of the upcoming Stanley Cup Final. "Nobody feels good leaving the building playing the way we did".

"That power play got us going", Sheary said. "Wanted to make sure that we played on our toes".

UNDATED (AP) - Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is expected to come off the disabled list and return to the lineup when Boston opens a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Rinne has allowed 11 goals on 45 shots in seven periods of play during the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh.

But what the Predators do have is a roster full of players who are capable of collectively stepping up and taking a game over.

Malkin scored on the resulting four-on-four to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission. "Not being able to get those goals in Nashville in the last couple of games, I don't think it fazed us".

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Pekka Rinne is a friendly, polite man off the ice. Nashville F Colin Wilson made his series debut after missing the first four games with an undisclosed injury.

"I got lucky and got one", Kessel said.

This may be the Predators' first time in the Stanley Cup Final, but they staved off elimination three times past year in playing a full 14 games through two rounds. Crosby, Malkin, Phil Kessel and rookie Jake Guentzel are the top four scorers this postseason.

Which leads us to a pivotal game five Thursday night at 7 p.m.

"With all the adversity this team has faced over the course of this season, what jumps out to me is just the character of the people that we have in our dressing room", stated Sullivan.

There's the third Stanley Cup - one more than mentor and team owner Mario Lemieux - and the chance to lead the first repeat Cup champs in the salary cap era and first in nearly 20 years.

If there was any tension between the two - and coach Mike Sullivan downplayed it - what happened at the end of the first period would have erased it. Instead, his penalty was just one of 14 given to the Predators with 10 handed out to Pittsburgh for a total of 100 penalty minutes. The first came in the second round and on the road against the President's Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, the next a double-overtime epic in the conference final against the Senators.

Kessel, with two assists and a goal, has 23 points (eight, 15) and is a plus-12 for the postseason, which leads the Penguins.