Penguins crush Predators in pivotal Game 5

But after the Pittsburgh Penguins' 6-0 rout of the Predators, Crosby is now one win away from a third Stanley Cup, and approval ratings don't matter much in that elite company. Pittsburgh Penguins' Olli Maatta grabs his nose after being hit there by a Nashville Predators' stick during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. Under two minutes into the game, Justin Schultz became the first Pittsburgh blueliner to score in the Final when he beat Pekka Rinne on the power play.

Crosby also showed ferocity in the opening period when he got tangled up with Nashville's P.K. Subban during a scrum. Instead, we chose to look at two specific players involved in the seven-game series - two players that were traded for each other almost three years ago. "And that's just going to be like (that)". "We've got to focus on that game, we've got to be better for our goaltenders, no question".

Between the water bottle that flew onto the ice, the repeated shoving of Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban's head and the dazzling three-assist performance, Sidney Crosby's prowess was on full display in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final. The Penguins walloped the Predators 6-0 to take a 3-2 series lead, and a blowout is just the thing to increase tensions.

There was the slick blind backhand pass to Conor Sheary just 1:19 into the second period that made it 4-0.

Predators Coach Peter Laviolette has a policy of not discussing lineup changes and wouldn't say if Wilson will return after missing four games because of a lower-body injury. His teammates weren't sharing any information either. Rinne and the Predators are 9-1 at home so far in these playoffs. The Penguins came out on fire and never looked back.

Not having Sissons would have been a blow to Nashville's depth at forward with center Ryan Johansen and left wing Kevin Fiala out injured. He allowed three goals on nine shots in the first period.

The six goals allowed were a postseason-high for Nashville, which had allowed five goals only twice, with one an empty-netter by Anaheim. Evgeni Malkin scored his 10th and had an assist, while Ron Hainsey also had a goal and an assist.

Country music fan Darlene Dye, who planned her trip from Dayton, Ohio, months before the Predators' playoff run, said she's enjoyed seeing the team embraced by country stars.

"(Austin Watson) tried to block the shot and it just came through, and after that if you don't pick it up it's too late to react and unfortunately it went in", said Rinne of Schultz's tally. "That's going to happen".

The Penguins couldn't have responded much better to losses in Game 3 and Game 4, where they scored a combined two goals.

"If we can get our forwards the puck early in shifts when they got a lot of energy and before they have to stop and play defense, they're some of the best forwards in the world".

The home team has won each of the first five games of the Final for just the 12th time since the National Hockey League went to a best-of-seven series in the final round in 1939, and for the first time since 2011.

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.

"He certainly had it going", Hainsey said.

"Well, I just think from the opening shift, you can see his drive and his appetite to win", Pittsburgh Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters.

This is the first time Nashville has faced elimination this postseason after sweeping Chicago, beating St. Louis in six games and then Anaheim in six to claim the Western Conference title. The Penguins got more of their forwards involved in the scoring - a necessity from their previous two games - with eight of their 12 forwards notching at least a point.