Stanley Cup Final 2017: Penguins vs. Predators TV Schedule, Predictions

The Nashville Predators may have been down 2-0 going into their first Stanley Cup Final game at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but there was no lack of confidence from the Western Conference champions.

They had won the possession battle and had more shots than the Penguins in both games in Pittsburgh, and the Predators were charged up to return to Smashville and show their fans how well they could play.

The pressure was clearly on, because defenseman P.K. Subban had told reporters that his team would take Game 3, and it was clearly a game the Preds had to win if they were going to be competitive in the Stanley Cup Final.

Stanley Cup Final Schedule

Pittsburgh leads series 2-1.

Game 4: Monday, Pittsburgh at Nashville, 8 p.m. ET, NBC.
Game 5: Thursday, Jun 8, Nashville at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET, NBC.
Game 6: Sunday, Jun 11, Pittsburgh at Nashville, 8 p.m. ET, NBC, if necessary,
Game 7: Wednesday, Jun 14, Nashville at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET, NBC, if necessary.

That pressure appeared to have an impact early in the game, as Jake Guentzel scored his fourth goal of the series and 13th of the playoffs to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead when he jumped on a rebound and shoveled it under Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne.

The Preds looked shaky, but they found their legs and game by the midway point of the first period and started taking it to the Penguins once again.

Nashville turned the game around with goals by Roman Josi and Frederick Gaudreau 42 seconds apart in the second period.

The two goals turned Bridgestone Arena into a cauldron of noise, and the Predators fans were not hesitant to let Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray hear their derisive chants.

Still, the game was close, and the Penguins responded with several sharp opportunities, including a wicked wrist shot from Phil Kessel that Rinne kicked out and a subsequent rebound opportunity stopped by a combination of Subban and the Finn.

The Preds gained some breathing room when James Neal scored with 22 seconds left in the middle period.

Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm added third-period goals to cap off the Predators' victory. The two teams will meet again Monday night in Game 4 at 8 p.m. ET, and that game is also in Nashville. The game will be televised by NBC.

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Subban told NBC's Pierre McGuire after Saturday's contest that the Preds knew they would get a tremendous reception from their home fans (h/t NHL.com): "We knew what it was going to be like coming back home. And we knew we wanted to take advantage of it and we did. That's one game now and we move forward."

Rinne, who gave up eight goals in the first two games in Pittsburgh, was back in top form in Game 3. He stopped 27 of 28 shots and looked sharp for 57-plus minutes after giving up the opening goal.

Murray gave up a couple of goals to his glove side, and the Preds will surely try to test him in that area going forward. The 23-year-old told reporters on the NBCSN broadcast after the game that he thought his positioning was good but that he wished he could "take back all five goals."

The Penguins may be feeling some deja vu from last year's final against the San Jose Sharks. Pittsburgh won its first two games at home before losing Game 3. Nevertheless, the Penguins went on to win the series in six games.

Pittsburgh found a way to win Game 4 of that series on the road, and they will need a much sharper effort in Nashville if they are going to do the same this year.

Prediction

The Predators knew they had played fairly well in Pittsburgh, but they had nothing to show for both games.

The pressure of being down 2-0 could have gotten to them, but they played well on home ice and have gotten back into the series.

They are 8-1 at home in the postseason, and they should be able to get off to a fast start in Game 4. Look for the Preds to open up a lead before Sidney Crosby leads a Pittsburgh comeback. The best player in the world will dominate in the final period, and his teammates will follow his lead.

But Rinne is a special goalie on home ice, and he will do just enough to allow the Predators to hang on and square the series at two games each.