Stanley Cup Final 2017: Odds, Props, Predictions for Penguins vs. Predators

The Pittsburgh Penguins were threatening to run away with the Stanley Cup Final after the first two games of the series against the Nashville Predators.

While Pittsburgh had been outshot in both games, and the Preds also seemed to possess the puck quite a bit more than their hosts, the Penguins were taking advantage of their opportunities and putting the puck in the net in rapid fashion.

They seemed to know how to beat Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, who had been on top of his game in the Preds' playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. There was a thought that the Preds had played extremely well in the first three rounds but had little left in the tank against the powerful and experienced defending Stanley Cup champions.

But that theory was blown out of the water after Nashville took Game 3 by a 5-1 scoreline. Bridgestone Arena was a cacophony of noise, and the home team did not let their supporters down.

After giving up the first goal early in the first period, the Preds found their skating legs halfway through the first period and took charge in the second.

Roman Josi, Frederick Gaudreau and James Neal scored in the second period, and Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm potted goals in the third. The Predators were the better team in all areas, and their victory cut Pittsbugh's lead in the series to 2-1.

The Predators will host Game 4 at 8 p.m. ET Monday, and it will be televised by NBC.

The Penguins were in a similar position in 2016. They opened the Stanley Cup Final with back-to-back wins over the San Jose Sharks before losing the third game of the series at the Shark Tank. The Penguins remained calm after that loss and bounced back to win Game 4. They went on to win the series in six games.

Head coach Mike Sullivan has not lost any confidence in goalie Matt Murray even though he gave up five goals in Game 3.

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

"I just think [Murray] has the ability to move by adversities," Sullivan said, per Dave Stubbs of NHL.com. "He's a mentally tough kid. He's a real resilient kid. He doesn't let any of the outside noise, or if he thought he should have had one of the goals, he doesn't let that stuff affect him. He has the ability to move by that stuff."

If Murray can make a couple of key saves early and the Penguins can gain the early lead, it would not be a surprise to see Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and high-scoring rookie Jake Guentzel force the action and dictate the outcome of the game.

The oddsmakers have made the Predators minus-152 favorites in Game 4, according to OddsShark. Nashville bettors have to risk $152 to earn a $100 profit. The Penguins are plus-137 underdogs.

While the Penguins are underdogs for Monday's contest, Malkin, Guentzel, Murray and Crosby are the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. That award goes to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Malkin is plus-150 to win the trophy, Guentzel is plus-400, Murray is plus-550 and Crosby is plus-650, according to OddsShark. Pekka Rinne is the top-rated Predator to win the award, at plus-1,200.

Prediction

The Preds were able to breathe easier after they left Bridgestone Arena Saturday night, as they got back into the series with a decisive victory.

Head coach Peter Laviolette is smart enough to realize the Game 3 win will mean nothing when the two teams hit the ice Monday night. The key for Nashville will be getting off to a good start and sustaining it for 60 minutes.

Look for the Preds to force the action and get the lead, but the Pens will not let them get away, and it should be close for 60 minutes. Nashville has an 8-1 home-ice record in the postseason, and they should find a way to hold on and make it 9-1 by the time the game is over.

Still, getting even in the series and winning the Stanley Cup are two different things. That's why the Penguins are still in an excellent position to win their second Stanley Cup in a row.

While Malkin may be in the favorite to earn MVP honors and Guentzel is a scoring machine, Crosby will be the dynamic force who brings the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh, and he will come away with the Conn Smythe Trophy at the conclusion of the series.