The Top Storylines to Watch in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators will face off in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins attempting to repeat as champions and the Predators encountering the challenge of their first championship series are among two of the notable storylines. 

This series will also feature an intriguing matchup of the Predators' deep defense corps against the Penguins' vaunted offense. The Preds must also cope with the absence of top center Ryan Johansen. Several stars on both clubs could be in line to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. 

Here's a look at the top storylines to watch in this year's edition of the Stanley Cup Final. Feel free to express your views on this topic in the comments section below. 

The Predators' Boisterous Fan Support

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Every NHL team looks to their fans for additional inspiration in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, the Nashville Predators could have an edge in that department. Their fans are pumped up over the prospect of their Predators having a shot at winning the city's first-ever professional sports title. 

NBC Sports tweeted on May 19 that ratings in Nashville for Games 2, 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Final were the highest ever for the Predators on their network. Sporting News' Jeff Diamond charted how the Predators rose from struggling at the gate a decade ago to turning the Bridgestone Arena into the loudest venue in the league. 

The Predators spent years making inroads in the community selling the game of hockey. They've embraced the city's country-music roots, turning the area around their downtown arena into a giant fan zone. The result is a growing and passionate fanbase providing the Predators with noisy support in their long march to the Stanley Cup Final.

Will Jake Guentzel Regain His Scoring Touch?

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the Stanley Cup Final, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel's nine goals leave him tied with Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg as the top playoff goal scorer. But leading up to this series, he's struggled to find the back of the net. 

A center converted to left wing on Sidney Crosby's line for much of the postseason, Guentzel tallied five goals in the Penguins' five-game opening-round elimination of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old rookie netted four in the next round as Pittsburgh eliminated the Washington Capitals in seven games. But in the Eastern Conference Final, he failed to score in seven games against the Ottawa Senators. 

In the Conference Final, Guentzel managed 12 shots against the Senators and came close to cashing in. Breaking out of his scoring slump could prove crucial for the Penguins' hope of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

Predators Face Their First Stanley Cup Final

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

For the first time since joining the NHL as an expansion club in 1998-99, the Predators are a Stanley Cup finalist. They face a daunting challenge going up against the defending champion Penguins. 

Inexperience at this level will be a significant hurdle. No one on the Predators roster played on a Stanley Cup champion before. Only captain Mike Fisher has played in a Cup Final, and that was with the 2007 Ottawa Senators. They're also missing their top center in Ryan Johansen, who suffered a playoff-ending leg injury in the Western Conference Final. 

The Predators do, however, have several factors working in their favor. Goaltender Pekka Rinne's been solid throughout the postseason. They possess a deep, mobile defense corps and successfully rolled four lines in eliminating such experienced foes as the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Their roster is also better rested and less banged-up than the Penguins. 

Rinne vs. Murray or Fleury

Gene J.Puskar/Associated Press

Goaltending could prove the crucial factor in determining this year's Stanley Cup champion. This series pits the Predators' Pekka Rinne against the Penguins' tandem of Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury. It will be an interesting clash between the red-hot Nashville netminder and Pittsburgh's experienced goalie depth.

Entering the Final, the 34-year-old Rinne leads all postseason goalies in goals-against average (1.70), save percentage (.941) and wins (12). He's also tied for the playoffs lead in shutouts (two) with Fleury and Cam Talbot of the Edmonton Oilers. His performance could be considered the main reason the Predators are Cup contenders.

Fleury, 32, carried the Penguins through two rounds against Columbus and Washington before giving way to the 23-year-old Murray midway through the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators. Murray is expected to be the starter against the Predators. Both have also backstopped the Penguins to previous championships: Fleury in 2009 and Murray last season. 

Can the Predators Cope Without Ryan Johansen?

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The Predators will be without center Johansen for the entire 2017 Cup Final. During Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks, the 24-year-old suffered a thigh injury requiring season-ending surgery following the game. 

While the Predators adjusted to Johansen's absence to eliminate the Ducks in six games, Johansen's absence will be significant in this series. He's their top playmaking forward, tied with Viktor Arvidsson for the club's regular-season scoring lead with 61 points. He is their playoff assist leader (10) and second among Predators scorers with 13 points. 

The Predators could attempt to offset Johansen's absence by giving more ice time to centers Mike Fisher, Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok. How they continue to cope without their best playmaker could be a determining factor in the outcome of this series. 

Conn Smythe Trophy Candidates

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

The Conn Smythe Trophy is annually awarded to the playoffs' most valuable player as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The Penguins and Predators have several deserving players potentially in line for MVP honors. 

Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne could be the leading candidate for the award. He's this spring's top netminder and the main factor behind his club's march to the Cup Final. Left wing Filip Forsberg and defenseman Ryan Ellis could also be in the running. Forsberg is the Predators' leading scorer with 15 points while Ellis leads their blueliners with 11 points.

Penguins stars Evgeni Malkin (2009) and Sidney Crosby (2016) are former Smythe Trophy winners. Either one could win this year. Malkin (24 points) and Crosby (20) are first and second, respectively, in the playoff scoring race. Their offense and leadership played a substantial role in the Penguins' return to the Cup Final. 

Predators Defense vs. Penguins Offense

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Predators defense corps played a key role in the club's playoff success this spring, while the Penguins offense powered them to their second straight Cup Final. This series should be an entertaining showdown between the two. 

Led by Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm, the Predators possess considerable depth in skilled puck-moving blueliners. Ellis (11 points), Josi and Subban (10 each) are among their club's leading scorers. They're also strong in their own zone. Their 29.7 shots against per game ranks fourth-lowest among all playoff clubs, giving up nearly three shots less than the Penguins (32.6). 

The Penguins counter with the best offense (3.05 goals per game) of this postseason. They're also tied with the Washington Capitals for second in power-play percentage (25.0). Superstars Evgeni Malkin (24 points) and Sidney Crosby (20) are first and second among playoff scorers. Phil Kessel (19) is tied with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf for third. 

Penguins Attempt to Repeat as Stanley Cup Champions

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to become the first team since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Since the Wings' accomplishment, three defending champions—the 1999-2000 Dallas Stars, the 2000-01 New Jersey Devils and the 2008-09 Red Wings—returned to the Final but failed to win consecutive championships. 

Several factors could work against the Penguins. They're coming off two straight series that went the full seven games. Their roster is banged up, with top defenseman Kris Letang gone for the playoffs and agitating winger Patric Hornqvist hobbled by injury. Their opponents in this series possess solid goaltending and a strong defense corps. 

The Penguins, however, have experienced leadership and considerable star power. Superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have played in three Cup Finals, winning two of them. Last season's championship roster remains largely intact.  The Pens possess a potent offense and can draw upon their underrated depth to overcome their injury woes.

Player, team and award info via NHL.com.