Before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, several Nashville players expressed excitement at the prospect of center and team captain Mike Fisher returning from a two-game absence due to an undisclosed injury.
The Predators’ response to an early deficit is a good indicator as to why.
Despite falling in a 3-0 hole in the first period of what would turn into a 5-3 loss, the Predators looked poised and in control for much of Game 1 at PPG Paints Arena. They held the Penguins without a shot on goal for the entire second period and most of the third, and tied the score with 6:31 remaining in the game.