Pens Points: Ugly Process, Beautiful Results

Thanks to the schedule makers we get another day off to recover and prepare before the Penguins continue their journey for the Stanley Cup. On Saturday the Stanley Cup Final will resume in Nashville with Game 3 at Bridgestone Arena. Up 2-0, the Pens will look to push the Predators to the brink with a victory in front of a hostile sea of yellow and likely a few flying catfish.

Game time is scheduled for 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on NBCSN.

There have been many instances so far in these playoffs where the Pens have looked overwhelmed by their opponent for long stretches. Then there are the times where the Pens play like a possessed demon who can roll over anyone in their path. The process may not be pretty but the results continue to be effective. [The Star]

Prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, head coach Mike Sullivan decided to go back to Matt Murray as his starter after a blowout loss in Game 3 with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal. A controversial decision at the time has helped push the Pens to within two wins of another Stanley Cup. [USA Today]

For extended periods a play during the first two games of the Final, the Predators carried play and looked to be the far superior team. While the Pens have held the Preds off the scoreboard for most of those moments, they still want to limit Nashville’s high danger chances to help their goalie. [Trib Live]

Up 2-0 in the series, the Pens find themselves in the exact same position as they were during last year’s Final and wound up losing Game 3 in San Jose to let the Sharks back in the series. The Pens hope to learn from that game last year and come out of this year’s Game 3 with a different result. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

If the Pens wish to come out on top Saturday night they’ll need their power play to break through the aggressive penalty of the Predators that has shut them down through the first two games. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

With two goals in Game 2, rookie Jake Guentzel pushed his playoff goal scoring lead to an even dozen and continued his historic tear in his inaugural playoff showing. [Penguins]

Always known as a football town, it may be time to recognize the fact that its actually the Penguins who hold top billing in the Steel City. [ESPN]

News and notes from around the NHL...

Once the playoffs wrap up and a champion is crowned, the NHL will immediately kick into offseason mode. A busier than usual summer, highlighted by the expansion draft, could feature a number of top names switching teams. [Bleacher Report]

Never one to allow too much fun, the NHL released some additional expansion draft rules that will severely limit the chances we see real chaos come the offseason. [Pension Plan Puppets]