Dominik Simon opened the scoring for the Penguins by sneaking a shot through Pekka Rinne’s five-hole. Rocco Grimaldi and Craig Smith answered quickly for the Predators to knot things up at 1.
Nick Bonino took Nashville’s first penalty of the evening, but the Predators were able to kill off the penalty. Alex Galchenyuk added another goal for Pittsburgh right as the penalty expired, and Jake Guentzel quickly made it 3-1 Penguins. That was the end of the night for Pekka Rinne.
Evgeni Malkin was whistled for tripping, but the Predators couldn’t do anything with the advantage.
Bryan Rust added a fourth goal for Pittsburgh with around five minutes gone in the second period. The Predators struggled to gain any momentum or pace as the second period continued. Juuso Rikkola made it 5-1 for the Penguins with just two minutes remaining in the middle frame.
For the few Predators fans still in the building, the team’s effort in the third was close to nonexistent. Even with a power play or two, the Preds couldn’t find anything that worked.
Random Observations
- Penguin=pengu
- That was an ugly opening goal.
- That was an equally ugly tying goal.
- NO ONE KNOWS WHO SCORED
- Colton Sissons has gone down the tunnel.
- Ryan Johansen pings one off the post!!!
- Dan Hamhuis is left bloodied by a puck to the mouth and he too goes down the tunnel.
- Juuse Saros is now in net for Nashville.
- The Preds have no life.
- Eww.
- Angry Ekholm spotted.
- This game is awful. Props to you for sticking with it. /
Super Duper Stars of the Game
- Craig Smith: His puck probably shouldn’t have fluttered past Tristan Jarry like that, but it did.
Tweets of the Night
EKHOLM BUT WHATEVER 🙌 https://t.co/sYPEFXgrSI
— Lady Preds (@Lady_Preds) December 28, 2019
It’s not often this has been said in Predators history, but goaltending is holding this team back this season.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) December 28, 2019
This has been a pretty big dud from the Predators so far. Pekka Rinne’s struggles continue…….it’s become probably the chief concern for this hockey team right now. Goaltending has been a major problem this year. They’re not going anywhere if it does not improve.
— Robby Stanley (@RStanleyNHL) December 28, 2019