Hockey is extremely weird, even inexplicable, sometimes.
Monday’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was a pretty solid example. The Penguins managed to take home the 5-3 win in the series opener despite being significantly outplayed for much of the game.
In fact, there was a 37-minute stretch in which the Penguins failed to record a shot on net. That is not a typo. Thirty-seven minutes.
After jumping out to a 3-0 lead on eight shots in the first period, the Pens flatlined for an astonishingly long stretch and allowed the Predators to climb back and tie the game. The home crowd at PPG Paints Arena was stunned, and for good reason.
Eventually, the Penguins managed to put a puck on net again. The shot that snapped the drought — a wrister from Jake Guentzel with a little over three minutes left in the third period — found its way past Pekka Rinne and became the game-winner.
The Penguins went on to add an empty-netter to seal the deal and take Game 1. The final stat line? Five goals on 12 shots for Pittsburgh — the lowest shot total for a winning team in the Stanley Cup Final.
It was a rough showing for Rinne, who let in a few softies and also got bit by some bad luck when a puck deflected off defenseman Mattias Ekholm for an own goal early in the game.
On top of that, the Preds also had a goal from P.K. Subban overturned in the first period due to an offside.
It all works out to a heartbreaking Stanley Cup debut for the Predators, but now it’s on them to reset and bounce back. The Penguins are extremely fortunate to be heading into Wednesday’s Game 2 with a series lead.