Nashville entered Tuesday’s Game 4 with plenty of momentum and a buzzing crowd for one of the biggest games in Predators’ history. Pekka Rinne was a wall, the Preds’ defense was relentless in the neutral zone and the team was consistently better than the Penguins all night to tie the Stanley Cup Final at two games a piece, sending things back to Pittsburgh in what’s now essentially a three-game series. Here are tonight’s highlights and reactions.
Calle Jarnkrok gives the Preds a 1-0 lead. Goal being challenged for goalie interference.. pic.twitter.com/vQDve4kON4
— Mark Harris (@TweetsByHarris) June 6, 2017
No word described the Predators tonight more than relentless. The first goal was good timing, better positioning and a will to score.
This goal was dirtier than Subban’s breathpic.twitter.com/HBV9uGoRJ9
— Sidney Crosby’s Ego (@SidneyCrosbyEgo) June 6, 2017
Crosby’s gonna Crosby, even though it took him eight years to Crosby since the last time he scored in the Stanley Cup Final. Still, he’s pretty good.
#Predators Frederick Gaudreau goal at 3:45 of the 2nd. 2-1, #Preds.#CallOutNews #PITvsNSH #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pJVMZ7v8EX
— Call Out News (@calloutnews) June 6, 2017
Speaking of pretty good, Nashville fans were feeling pretty good after this slick goal. The Penguins have looked dead on the ice in Smashville, and this goal got Bridgestone loud again. It was really over from here.
The fan reactions after the Gaudreau goal that made it 2-1 @PredsNHL. #StandWithUs #StanleyCup #PITvsNSH #Preds pic.twitter.com/d4rin3GMij
— Fans Favorite FAN (@FansFavoriteFan) June 6, 2017
Then came more Pekka Rinne.
Question for Pekka Rinne:
Are you kidding?! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/oJkubcHzHi
— NHL (@NHL) June 6, 2017
Can anyone find the fans who wanted to bench Rinne before Game 3? Anyone? Bueller?
No, Arvi, we salute you. #Preds #StandWithUs #PITvsNSH pic.twitter.com/t51vlmsYFR
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 6, 2017
This is a snipe if I’ve ever seen one. If you though Bridgestone was rocking before, the Preds faithful could taste an even series at this point.
Rocky Top at the #StanleyCup. Because it’s still SEC country. pic.twitter.com/ZUxH5YZa9x
— Renato Mazariegos (@RPMSports18) June 6, 2017
3-1 lead memes and Butch Jones jokes aside, that’s a pretty loud chorus of Rocky Top in Nashville. Only something really bad or really good can happen next…
#Predators Filip Forsberg empty net goal. #Preds 4-1.#CallOutNews #PITvsNSH #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/fKdHU7nwPx
— Call Out News (@calloutnews) June 6, 2017
Well, really good. That seemed like the Josh Dobbs bomb to Josh Malone in December that crushed Nebraska’s hopes and dreams of a Music City Bowl comeback.
1) Rocky Top plays
2) Game over— Popcorn Sutton (@PopcornSutton__) June 6, 2017
HOCKEY TOP TENNESSEE
— Tanner Carson (@TCarson__) June 6, 2017
Rocky Top plays over speakers at Bridgestone. Pens pull goalie. Preds immediately score from 200 feet away. OH THE HUMANITY.
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) June 6, 2017
Yeah, what they said.
Game 4 = OURS. Series = TIED. We will see you in #Smashville for Game 6! #PITvsNSH pic.twitter.com/fCB4M1FjkG
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 6, 2017
The Preds really have dominated most of all four games, but were really bad for short spurts in Games 1 and 2 and paid the price for it. That being said, a win in Pittsburgh for Game 5 would all but guarantee a mad house in Bridgestone for Game 6 as the Preds try to win their first ever Stanley Cup.
Preds are making babies!! #StanleyCup #NSHvsPIT #SmashvilleProud pic.twitter.com/3nNKBto5Rs
— Adam WCF CHAMPS (@IamFreezn) June 6, 2017
Guess fans will celebrate however they can until the Preds come back to Nashville.
