Predators vs Penguins: Game 5 Live Stream, TV Schedule and Latest Comments

The 2017 Stanley Cup Finals has been an exciting, back-and-forth affair after four games, and a pivotal Game 5 figures to see both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators throw their best punches as both teams look to take control of an even series.

The Penguins gave the Preds a tough time in the first two games of the series at home, winning both by a combined score of 9-4. The Predators, no stranger to adversity as the lowest-seeded team in the entire bracket, came roaring back at home, winning Game 3 by a score of 5-1 and sealing Game 4 with a 4-1 scoreline. 

Now, the series heads back to PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Thursday night as the defending champions look to take advantage of the home support and tilt the knotted-up series in their favor. 

Stanley Cup Game 5 Schedule

Date: Thursday, June 8

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Live Extra

After four games, both teams have plenty to be confident but also much to consider. The Penguins were able to beat the Predators in the first two games courtesy of some lethal bursts of offense, but the lopsided scorelines masked some of the offense's issues dealing with Nashville's tough blueliners.

The Ringer's Megan Schuster noted that prior to a third-period blitzkrieg by the Penguins, Nashville controlled much of Games 1 and 2: 

"For the first 40 minutes, P.K. Subban and the Predators back line swarmed the middle of their defensive zone, pushing and prodding Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin around the ice while keeping them pointless. In terms of overall balance of play, it felt similar to Game 1 (plus a lot more Penguin shots), which was both optimistic and ominous for Nashville. In that game, the Predators seized momentum until the reigning champs snatched it away late."

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Of course, the Preds couldn't muster enough scoring to come away with the wins, while Pittsburgh's plethora of offensive options, which include Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Nick Bonino, managed to blow out Nashville in quick stretches and pick up the wins. 

Those scoring rushes never materialized away from home, and Penguins goalie Matt Murray cited Nasvhille's unceasing pressure as a reason the offense faltered.

"They're right on top of the puck all time, forcing turnovers and taking away our time and space," said Murray, per NBCSports.com's Cam Tucker. "I think we got a lot better as the game went on, making our decisions a little bit quicker coming out of our zone. I think that helped us out a lot compared to previous games."

Pittsburgh hopes that they can rebound after two straight defeats. Malkin is tipping Phil Kessel to get in on the scoring action. 

"[He'll] score," Malkin said, per NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I mean, it's his time to score. We know he's a great player and he likes to play in tough situations. Now it's time for leadership to show, good games. Time to score."

The Predators, of course, have to prove they can keep their composure in a pressure-packed Game 5 on the road. Defenseman P.K. Subban, a veteran leader of this team as the franchise makes its first-ever appearance in the finals, put it rather simply.

"You can't forget, regardless of what happens in a game or throughout a series, they're the Cup champions," said Subban, per The Tennessean's Joe Rexrode.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Nashville can expect a pretty good counterpunch from the defending champs. Pittsburgh managed 24 shots to Nashville's 26 in Game 4 and had plenty of strong stretches of play, but the Pens were simply stonewalled at nearly every turn by goalkeeper Pekka Rinne, a stalwart throughout the postseason who nevertheless was carved up early in the series and had a measly .778 save percentage through two contests. 

His good form has seemingly returned in this series after two games of allowing just one goal (.962 save percentage), and Predators fans can only hope it's here to stay.

Playing goalie is as much (if not more) of a mental battle than it is a physical one, and some eye-popping saves from Rinne in Game 4 have him confident he can play better despite heading back to unfriendly confines.

"It doesn't have to be a highlight-reel save, but when you make a timely save, it really is a confidence boost," Rinne said, per ESPN.com's Tal Pinchevsky. "I feel like a lot of times after that, things kind of seem to slow down in your eyes. Maybe you see the puck a little bit better and anticipate a little bit better. It is always a helpful thing."

Here's a look at one of those confidence-boosters, per the NHL:

The Penguins will give Rinne everything they have in Game 5, certainly looking to create more sustained stretches of pressure and eventually wear down the mammoth netminder.

Nashville's defense and tenacity have proved to be tough to deal with for much of the series, and the Penguins can't simply count on two- to three-minute stretches of dominance to carry them to another Stanley Cup. 

Now that the Predators have their own offense on balance, the Penguins will be pressed to prove that the speed, offensive depth and proven championship mettle sees them through to two more victories.