Stanley Cup 2017: Updated Odds, Schedule for Penguins vs. Predators Final

The Nashville Predators have hit the Pittsburgh Penguins right back in the kisser.

After dropping two games in Pittsburgh in which they had the edge in shots on goal and puck possession, the Predators found their stride in Game 3 and earned a decisive 5-1 victory over the Penguins. Pittsburgh still leads the Stanley Cup Final by a 2-1 margin.

Taking advantage of their raucous and impressive support from the home fans at Bridgestone Arena, the Preds overcame an early 1-0 deficit and took command with a three-goal second period.

Jake Guentzel scored early in the first period to give Pittsburgh the early lead, the Preds looked somewhat off balance as the visitors continued to press for more. However, the Preds found their skating legs by the midway point of the first period and started taking the attack to the defending Stanley Cup champions. While they went into the locker room trailing 1-0, the Preds looked like they were taking control.

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.

The Preds tied the game and then took the lead in an eye blink during the second period. Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz went to the penalty box at the 4:13 mark of the middle period, and the Predators moved the puck sharply on the power play.

Roman Josi scored the tying goal at the 5:51 mark, when his blast from just inside the blue line made it past Penguins goalie Matt Murray, leading to a Bridgestone Arena celebration that was matched 42 seconds later.

That's when Frederick Gaudreau cut across from the left boards and whipped a hard wrist shot past Murray's outstretched glove hand for the go-ahead goal.

The Preds had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage in a matter of seconds, and they continued to build their lead as the game progressed.

Former Penguin James Neal extended the advantage to two goals in the final seconds of the second period when he banked a shot off Murray and into the net. The Predators added two more goals by Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm in the final 20 minutes.

Josi had a huge game with two assists in addition to his tying goal, and that performance was lauded by Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette.

"He's as consistent a player as there is in the National Hockey League," Laviolette said, per Lisa Dillman of NHL.com "Day in and day out at practice, every game, he gives the same quality performance. He's an excellent 200-foot defenseman. He plays as well in the defensive zone as he does in the offensive zone."

It was a dominant performance for Josi and his teammates, and now the Predators will be tested to see if they can match it Monday night in Game 4.

The Penguins are not going to be intimidated or fearful, because Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and head coach Mike Sullivan have been through this before. They had a 2-0 lead in last year's Stanley Cup Final, lost Game 3 on the road to the San Jose Sharks and bounced back with a win in Game 4.

The Predators are -150 favorites to tie the series, according to OddsShark. Nashville backers have to risk $150 to win $100 on a successful outcome for the Predators. The Penguins are +136 underdogs.

If the Penguins are going to bounce back in the next game, they are going to need more from Crosby and Malkin, neither of whom had a shot on goal in Game 3. 

Crosby believes that has to change. "I had some opportunities to shoot it," Crosby said, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Didn't get it there. There were a few chances around the net. I have to find a way to get it through."