Stanley Cup Final: Game 3 Pre-Game Notes

Some pre-game notes heading into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday:

• The score was tied, 1-1, entering the third period of Game 2 on Wednesday in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins scored three goals in the first 3:28 of the final frame to take a 4-1 lead (they eventually won the game by that score). Pittsburgh now holds a 2-0 series lead; the Penguins have won 16 of the 18 playoff series they've led 2-0 all-time, and each of their last 10 such series.

• The Predators find themselves in an 0-2 playoff series hole for the fifth time in franchise history. Nashville lost the four previous playoff series that they trailed 2-0, but won Game 3 each time (winning each Game 3 by multiple goals).

• The Penguins had seven power-play opportunities in Game 2, their most in a playoff game since Game 2 of their 2014 first round series versus the Blue Jackets (eight) and the most the Predators have allowed in a playoff game since Game 5 of their 2016 first round series versus the Ducks (seven).

• Jake Guentzel scored two goals in Game 2, giving him 12 goals this postseason -- the second most by a rookie in a single postseason all-time (the Minnesota North Stars' Dino Ciccarelli lit the lamp 14 times in the 1981 postseason).

• Matt Murray has gotten the start and the win in each game this series, and now has a 20-7 career postseason record (the best playoff record by any goalie with at least 25 postseason starts all-time). His 1.95 career postseason goals against average is the second lowest all-time among goalies with 25 career playoff starts (Patrick Lalime -- 1.77).

• Pontus Aberg scored the Predators' only goal on Wednesday, his second goal this postseason after lighting the lamp just once in the regular season. Aberg has four points in Nashville's last four playoff games, totaling two goals and two assists over that span.

• Pekka Rinne has allowed exactly four goals in each game this series, after allowing four goals in just one of Nashville's first 16 games this postseason. Rinne is looking to get back on track at home, where he has won 11 of his last 12 playoff starts dating back to last postseason, recording a 1.58 goals against average and .942 save percentage at home over that span.