PITTSBURGH (AP/ESPN CLARKSVILLE) — The floodgates are open in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins lead 4-1 late in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after a three-goal flurry in the first 3:18 of the third period against Nashville. That chased goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Jake Guentzel scored 10 seconds into the period. Seconds after an own goal off the left skate of Nashville’s Vern Fiddler that was credited to Scott Wilson, Evgeni Malkin beat Rinne to give Pittsburgh a three-goal lead.
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Rinne allowed four goals on 25 shots. He got the Predators to this point and went into the series as an MVP favorite, but allowed four goals on 11 shots in Game 1 and then got the hook in Game 2.
It stayed 4-1 after Pittsburgh’s Matt Cullen was ruled offside following a coach’s challenge of a goal by Patric Hornqvist.
P.K. Subban and Malkin dropped the gloves for a fight after all the scoring. Two of the biggest stars in hockey tussled against the boards with 7:46 left in a game Pittsburgh had taken over.
Game 3 is Saturday in Nashville.