Stanley Cup Final 2017: Predators vs. Penguins Game 5 TV Schedule, Odds, Pick

Well, the NBA Finals haven't been especially interesting thus far, but you definitely cannot say the same about the Stanley Cup Final. The NHL's premier series is now tied at 2-2, thanks to back-to-back home stampings from the Nashville Predators.

Nashville has won the last two games by the combined score of 9-2. This came after the Pittsburgh Penguins took the first two games by a combined 9-4 score. Now the series shifts back to Pittsburgh, and there's really no telling what might happen next.

If you're glued to the unfolding drama and ready to get in on the Game 5 action, you're in luck. We're here with everything you need to know about the game, including television information and the latest odds, courtesy of OddsShark.com.

We'll also run down the remaining television schedule and examine the latest Stanley-Cup-related buzz.

2017 Stanley Cup Final Game 5

What: Nashville at Pittsburgh

When: Thursday, June 8

Time: 8 p.m. ET

National TV: NBC, CBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live

Odds: Pittsburgh 5-7, Nashville 5-4

Pick: Nashville, 4-3 (OT)

Remaining Schedule

Game 6: Pittsburgh at Nashville: Sunday, June 11, at 8 p.m.

Game 7: Nashville at Pittsburgh: Wednesday, June 14, at 8 p.m.

All games broadcast on NBC and CBC.

Latest Buzz

Return of Rinne

A big reason the Predators have been able to turn this series around after landing in a 0-2 hole has been the recent play of goalie Pekka Rinne. After allowing eight goals in the first two games, he allowed just two in the Nashville home stand.

"He was incredible today. He made some great saves [on shots] that you thought was going in but he battled back and kept it out of the net," forward Viktor Arvidsson said after Game 4, per Tal Pinchevsky of ESPN.com. "We never doubt Peks. He's an unbelievable player. He steps up for us every night."

If Rinne is able to step up the way he did in the last two games, the Predators will have a good chance of returning to Nashville with a chance to win the Cup at home. Remember, the Preds have only had one blowout loss in this series.

Nashville was able to battle back to tie the game in Game 1 before losing. Aside from the 4-1 blowout loss in Game 2—a game in which Rinne stumbled—the Predators have outscored the Penguins 10-6 in the series. They hold a 13-11 goal advantage overall.

With Rinne again playing well, the Predators should have all the confidence they need heading onto the opposition's ice on Thursday.

The Penguins Need a Return From Guentzel

For much of the postseason, the Penguins have relied on the scoring prowess of rookie forward Jake Guentzel. The first-year standout has scored three goals thus far in the Final. He has 13 goals—one short of the rookie record held by Dino Ciccarelli—and five game-winners in the postseason.

Unfortunately, Guentzel simply wasn't much of a factor in Nashville. He scored one of the Pittsburgh goals during the stretch there, but it was hardly a blip on the proverbial radar. What Pittsburgh needs is for Guentzel to take over back at PPG Paints Arena. The Preds have been controlling the puck, and the Penguins need to counter with scoring efficiency.

Matthew Coller of ESPN.com recently explained:

"Throughout the second half of the regular season and playoffs, Pittsburgh has come to count on the first-year winger to be a top producer. Now with the series tied, chasing Ciccarelli's record becomes irrelevant. Now the spotlight is on Guentzel to continue scoring if the Penguins are going to have a chance to beat the possession-dominating Predators."

Despite losing in Game 1, the Predators managed to control the tempo of the game and the puck for large stretches. In fact, they went 37 straight minutes without allowing a shot on goal. If not for a few odd plays, Nashville might be taking a 3-1 series lead into Pittsburgh.

The Penguins need shots on goal to counter the Predators' game plan. They got them in Game 2 from Guentzel, and they'll need more from him in Game 3.

Even Barkley is On Board

The back-and-forth battle between the Predators and the Penguins has brought plenty of excitement to the sporting world—as we mentioned earlier, quite a bit more than the NBA playoffs has. The disparity in the action has been so great that former NBA star Charles Barkley has been more interested in the NHL this postseason.

Barkley was invited by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to attend Game 4 in Nashville, and he seemed to love the atmosphere in Smashville.

"They say it's crazy, and the playoffs have been amazing," Barkley said, per Teresa M. Walker of Boston.com. "I'm not breaking earth-shattering news. The NBA playoffs have not been very good."

Seeing Barkley praising the Stanley Cup Final while snoozing on his own sport might not be a great look for the NBA, but it's a great one for hockey fans. It's also indicative of just how popular the sport has been this postseason.

According to Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News, television ratings for the Stanley Cup Final in Nashville have been up "about 75 percent" over last year's numbers.

Even more eyes should be on Game 5.