Sidney Crosby, Penguins Dominate Predators for 6-0 Win in Game 5

The defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins are back in control of the Stanley Cup Final.

Pittsburgh defended home ice at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday with a commanding 6-0 victory in Game 5, seizing a 3-2 lead over the Nashville Predators. The home team has won every game this series, and the Penguins ensured the pattern would continue with first-period goals from Justin Schultz, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin, which drove Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne from the game.

Penguins goaltender Matt Murray shined as well with his first shutout of the series.

Penguins Set the Tone With Early Attack

There was no hangover from two straight road losses for the champs.

Pittsburgh unleashed an offensive onslaught out of the gates, drawing a penalty in the first minute and parlaying it into a power-play goal for Schultz. From there, Rust buried a backhander less than six minutes later, and Malkin put the finishing touches on Rinne with a third goal in the first.

Adam Vingan of the Tennessean noted the difference in Pittsburgh's success against the goaltender from the previous two contests:

While he didn't notch any of the early goals, Sidney Crosby was the best player on the ice and spearheaded the offensive explosiveness. He assisted Schultz's goal and found Conor Sheary with a beautiful pass to make it 4-0 in the second period.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, he passed Mario Lemieux for the most Stanley Cup Final points in franchise history with 20.

Not only was he causing problems for the visitors by slicing through the blueliners and generating numerous chances, but he bounced P.K. Subban's head off the ice with questionable use of physicality and threw a water bottle on the ice right before Phil Kessel scored Pittsburgh's fifth goal:

While the Predators and their fans will take umbrage with those plays, it doesn't change the fact Crosby dictated the pace throughout the contest and was one of the primary reasons Pittsburgh ended the competitive portion of the game well before the final period.

Just for good measure, Ron Hainsey scored in the second period as well, as the Penguins were never challenged after the fast start.

Murray Outshines Rinne

Rinne was brilliant in Games 3 and 4 at home, allowing a single goal in each contest. However, the Penguins scored a combined nine goals in the first two games and overwhelmed the goaltender Thursday, forcing coach Peter Laviolette to pull him for Juuse Saros after a single period.

Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggested a solution for Rinne's road woes:

The Predators will need a much better performance in Game 6 and a potential Game 7 from Rinne if they are going to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Matching what Murray did Thursday would be an effective game plan. 

While Pittsburgh's offense outshined Murray in the opening stretch, his performance should not be overlooked. He didn't let his guard down like he did in Game 1 when he allowed three straight goals after the Penguins took a 3-0 lead.

In all, he turned away all 24 of Nashville's shots on goal to earn a dominant victory.

He will need to be equally strong in Sunday's Game 6 in Nashville, where the Predators are 9-1 in the playoffs, if the Penguins are to avoid a decisive Game 7.