Nashville was rocking and the Predators tied the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece.
Here are three things we learned from a wild Game 4 on Monday night.
Get back to the office in no time with BPs New Half-Time Lunch and $10 Combos. Dine-In Only. Click here to learn more.
What goalie change?
Hey, remember when Predators coach Peter Laviolette had to answer questions about whether he should start Juuse Saros over Pekka Rinne in Game 3?
That seems like a long time ago now.
Rinne was brilliant in Nashville’s Game 3 win and even better in Game 4 with some sensational saves, including this diving glove stop.
The Finnish goaltender finished the game by stopping 23-of-24 shots and was named the first star for the second game in a row.
Who?
Frederick Gaudreau continues to shine in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final and added to his impressive series with a goal in Game 4.
The 24-year-old gave Nashville a 2-1 lead in the second period with a wrap-around goal past Matt Murray. After review, the referees ruled the play a good goal.
Gaudreau was thrusted into the Predators lineup after Ryan Johansen underwent thigh surgery in the Western Conference Final and has made the most of his opportunity. The centre has scored in three of the four games in this series and played close to 20 shifts in all six games he’s played in.
Sportsnet’s Gare Joyce wrote on Sunday about the some of the under appreciated players of the final and Gaudreau topped the list.
Oh, did we mention that he Gaudreau only has a chair — no stall — in the Predators’ locker-room?
Welcome to the party, Sid
It took eight years, but Sidney Crosby has finally found the back of the net in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Penguins captain beat Rinne at 15:57 of the first period to tie the game at 1-1 for his first goal in the Cup Final in quite a while.
The last time Crosby scored in the Stanley Cup Final was June 4, 2009 in Game 4 against the Detroit Red Wings. Pittsburgh would go on to win that series for their first title since 1992.
The 29-year-old also passed Mike Bossy, Gordie Howe, Al MacInnis and Bobby Smith for 20th in all-time playoff points.
[relatedlinks]
