The Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 6 by a score of 2-0 over the host Nashville Predators to win the fifth Stanley Cup in franchise history and the second in as many seasons.

The Nashville Predators were so close to victory.Following the Pittsburgh Penguins hoisting the Stanley Cup on Sunday, doing so after defeating Nashville in six games, it took little time for the Predators to look to the future.Specifically, defenseman P.K. Subban."The biggest thing we've got to take from this is remember the feeling. I don't think you want to fight it. Just let it sink and take it because to get back here that is what is going to drive us," Subban said on Hockey Night in Canada. "We're going to be back here again next year."

Matt Murray is sure to go down as one of the greatest rookie goaltenders of all time.Not only has he become the first rookie goalie to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, he also finished off the Nashville Predators in style.

Sidney Crosby is the most valuable player of the playoffs.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain finished the postseason with eight goals and 19 assists in 25 games. It is the second straight Conn Smythe Trophy win for Crosby, who captured the award a year ago when the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks to win the Stanley Cup.Crosby becomes just the third player to win back-to-back Conn Smythes. Goaltender Bernie Parent did so with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975, while Mario Lemieux did the same with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992.The Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators in six games to capture their fifth championship in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Repeat.The Pittsburgh Penguins are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.Sidney Crosby and Co. defeated the Nashville Predators 2-0 in Sunday's Game 6 to win the Stanley Cup Final 4-2. Patric Hornqvist scored the winning goal at 18:25 of the third period, and Carl Hagelin sealed the deal with an empty-net goal. Matt Murray was spectacular in the crease, stopping 27 shots to earn his second straight shutout.Related: Watch: Hornqvist banks puck off Rinne for Stanley Cup-winning goalIt's the fifth Stanley Cup in Penguins history, each won on the road.The game was filled with controversy, after an early second-period goal by Colton Sissons was ruled no-goal after referee Kevin Pollack blew the play dead early having lost sight of the puck.The referees did their best to try and make it up to Nashville, the Predators going on four power plays to Pittsburgh's none, but Peter Laviolette's crew couldn't find the back of the net.Pittsburgh is the first team to repeat as Cup champs in the salary cap era, and the first since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.Crosby was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, earning the nod for the second straight year. He finished the playoffs with eight goals and 19 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patric Hornqvist, Stanley Cup hero.The Pittsburgh Penguins winger scored the first and winning goal of Game 6 with 1:35 remaining in the third period by banking the puck off Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne from behind the net.The goal was Hornqvist's fifth of the playoffs and biggest of his life.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators thought they had a goal. But then they didn't.Predators forward Colton Sissons was the victim of a no-goal after he banged a rebound past Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray. Much to his chagrin, a quick whistle by the officials ruled the play dead, keeping the game scoreless.Given that this season has seen many a minute wasted for second looks at offside calls, the social media world questioned why early whistles aren't subject to a similar review:

Referee Kevin Pollock better hope the Nashville Predators don't lose Game 6 - and the Stanley Cup - by a goal Sunday.Early in the second period, Pollock lost sight of the puck after Filip Forsberg fired it on Matt Murray - who didn't have control of it - and blew the play dead a second before Colton Sissons put it into the open net.The play was not reviewable, and the call on the ice stood despite the fact the four officials on the ice got together to discuss the play, on which it was clear Murray didn't have possession.The Predators and their fans were unsurprisingly not happy with the ruling, which could prove about as costly as costly gets...Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Ellis is playing.There was some uncertainty with respect to the Nashville Predators defenseman's status due to an undisclosed injury sustained in Game 5, but he's giving it a go in Game 6.

The Nashville Predators are hosting their final home game of the season on Sunday, and everyone wants to be there.With Bridgestone Arena filled to capacity, close to 100,000 fans were expected to gather outside for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.The festivities were kicked off by a free Luke Bryan concert, which no doubt drew some bodies to the area.

Gerard Gallant has not bookmarked Cap Friendly's expansion draft tool.In fact, the first head coach in Vegas Golden Knights history has not spent any time at all attempting to project the team's roster after this , he told team insider Gary Lawless."I'll coach the players we get," Gallant said. "And as long as we're working hard - we'll be just fine."Gallant also said he received a call from Golden Knights general manager George McPhee only a couple of weeks after being fired by the Florida Panthers in late November.He first interviewed for the head coaching job a few weeks after the call, and knew right then he wanted the gig, although the the official announcement of his hiring was made on April 13.Despite not doing any personal projections, Gallant expects some "real good players" to be selected by McPhee in the expansion draft.Results will be made public at the NHL Awards on June 21.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are expected to name Bob Boughner as their new head coach as early as Monday. The promotion will lift Boughner from his role as assistant coach of the San Jose Sharks, where he worked under former Panthers bench boss, Pete DeBoer.DeBoer believes his former employer is doing the right thing by poaching his assistant from the past two seasons."The best compliment I can give him is that if I was hiring a new coach for a team, he would be a guy I would hire," said DeBoer, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.Boughner has 10 years of NHL experience as a player, but DeBoer says his protege isn't resting on old laurels."He came up the right way," DeBoer said. "He rode the buses and didn't just expect to get a job. He worked hard for this, paid his dues and deserves this. I have no doubt he is going to be successful."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Win or lose, the Pittsburgh Penguins are about to make history.Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final will mark the team's 49th playoff game over the past two seasons, the most played by a single team in a two-year period in NHL history, according to the Penguins.Pittsburgh, of course, beat the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the Final to win the Cup last year, and will be out to do the same against the Nashville Predators on Sunday.Here's a look at the club's opponents round-by-round over the past two postseasons.2016: 24 GamesRoundOpponentGames1Rangers52Capitals63Lightning74Sharks62017: 25 Games (at least)RoundOpponentGames1Blue Jackets52Capitals73Senators74Predators6 (at least)If Pittsburgh is indeed able to finish off the Predators in Game 6 or 7 (if necessary), the Penguins would become the first repeat champions since the Detroit Red Wings accomplished the feat in 1997 and 1998.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A familiar voice has been noticeably absent from the Stanley Cup Final over the last few days, and it's a trend that's gone from strange to problematic.P.K. Subban wasn't made available to reporters for a third straight day Sunday, hours before his Nashville Predators will attempt to extend their season in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Members of the assembled media refused to leave Subban's stall, and the NHL intervened on their behalf but was denied by the team, according to Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski.It's unusual, to say the least, for the always forthright Predators superstar to go this long without talking, and particularly odd for him to be unavailable on the day of the biggest game in Predators history.The whole situation raises several questions:Was he muzzled?It's unclear whether the Predators are ordering Subban not to speak, but given how media-savvy the ever-affable defenseman typically is, and especially how press-friendly he was at the start of the series, it's weird, particularly at this juncture of the Cup Final.If Nashville's public relations staff is intentionally hiding him, that's doing a disservice to their fans and supporters of hockey everywhere. If it's his own decision, it would be a truly surprising one for a player who's normally one of the most accommodating players in the league.Is this related to anything he's said or done?Subban has certainly been a lightning rod for controversy throughout this series. He guaranteed the Predators would win Game 3, then doubled down on it, but the eventual fallout from that contest might be more to blame for his mysterious media abstinence.It's possible the Predators might not have been thrilled about Subban's "Listerine" joke that Sidney Crosby treated as an honest accusation by claiming the Predators blue-liner "made that up" (of course he did).If Nashville was at all unnerved by Subban "lying" about what Crosby said to him, the Predators organization is showing they - like the Penguins captain himself - haven't been in the mood to laugh about it. Is this actually allowed?Here's the important thing about this whole mess: It's probably against the rules.The Predators violated terms agreed upon by the NHL and the Professional Hockey Writers Association, according to The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.Those rules stipulate that players who skate on game days are supposed to be made available to talk, and so the PHWA was expected to file a grievance to the league about Subban's absence, according to Wyshynski.Some fans might say they couldn't care less about the media's problems, but there are guidelines in place to prevent this sort of thing from happening for a reason.Players don't talk much during the playoffs beyond specifically scheduled times as it is, but not hearing from the Predators' brightest star on the day of the biggest game of his career and the biggest game in the history of the franchise isn't just a media problem. It should be frustrating for everyone.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2016-17 season with targets on their backs, as 29 teams aimed to knock them off their perch as reigning Stanley Cup champions.Now, eight months since the start of the campaign, the Pens sit one win shy of repeating as champions and can become the first team since the juggernaut Red Wings of the late '90s to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.Let's get the obvious out of the way: the Penguins employ Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the driving forces behind a decade-plus of success. However, no team reaches this point (let alone twice in a row) without playing as a cohesive unit, and the man leading the way on that front is head coach Mike Sullivan.Since taking over for Mike Johnston in December 2015, Sullivan's had the magic touch. He turned around a distraught, underachieving team and instilled simplicity to a roster laden with firepower - and the results speak for themselves.In 136 regular-season games under Sullivan since last season, the Penguins have recorded 182 points. That's the second-highest point total over that stretch, trailing only the Capitals, who, quite frankly, have nothing to boast about to their Metropolitan Division adversaries.Not to mention, Sullivan's yet to lose a playoff series.That's not to say it's been an easy ride - Sullivan's track record of decision-making along the way has paid off time and time again. After Marc-Andre Fleury backstopped Pittsburgh to series victories over Columbus and Washington but subsequently faltered against the Senators, Sullivan decided the crease belonged to rookie Matt Murray, who's been a rock ever since.Amid a heated exchange between Phil Kessel and Malkin on the bench during Game 2 of the Ottawa series, Sullivan did what he always does: let his players sort it out on the ice. They ultimately did just that, with no fuel added to the fire.Tactically, the Penguins aren't the strongest team. In fact, much has been made of Pittsburgh's knack for allowing more shots than it takes. Yet the Pens' rope-a-dope, quick-strike style has still pushed the Nashville Predators' seemingly impenetrable defensive corps to the brink. Sullivan's commitment to the oft-criticized strategy has also crushed the Blue Jackets, ousted the Capitals, and outlasted the Senators - all without the irreplaceable Kris Letang patrolling the blue line.Mired in a six-season gap between Stanley Cup Final appearances, the Penguins' championship pedigree appeared to be diminishing as the club sat fifth in the Metro upon Sullivan's hiring 18 months ago. Since then, the 46-year-old has restored the club's winning ways, and the Penguins have performed a complete 180 to sit on the verge of a feat no team in the salary-cap era has been able to accomplish.The word "legacy" has been tossed around ad nauseam throughout the finals, mainly with respect to the careers of Crosby and Malkin, who are each within reach of a third ring. But it's also their boss - quietly leading the way in an attempt to claim his second title in as many tries - who deserves praise for writing quite a remarkable story himself.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Irwin isn't the Nashville Predators head coach, nor is he a member of the training staff, but the defenseman anticipates teammate Ryan Ellis playing in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final."We fully expect Ryan to play," Irwin told reporters after the Predators' game-day skate Sunday, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.Ellis skated on his own before Nashville's optional session and did not join his teammates for the rest of the practice.The blue-liner couldn't put much power on his shot while skating alone, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Ellis left Game 5 with an injury, his absence in Game 6 would obviously have a significant impact on the Predators' defense corps.He ranks fourth on the club in average ice time in these playoffs and has been playing critical minutes alongside Roman Josi.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators' success this postseason could not have come at a better time for the NHL and the Vegas Golden Knights. This run to the Stanley Cup Final has put Nashville on the map as a legitimate hockey market, even though attendance has never been a major issue - with the exception of a few seasons - in the Predators' existence.Though they're by no means the same city, Nashville and Las Vegas have some striking similarities that should ease some of the concerns people have about Sin City's ability to support an NHL team.Untapped marketJust like the Predators in 1998, the Golden Knights will be entering an untapped professional sports market. There's no NBA or MLB team in either city, and while the NFL's Tennessee Titans also moved to Nashville full time in 1998, the Golden Knights won't have to worry about the Raiders moving to Vegas until 2019 or 2020.The Golden Knights will therefore have a nice head start on their local NFL counterpart when it comes to building a fan base in the city - something the Predators didn't have the luxury of when they started out.Downtown arenaThis is perhaps the most important similarity between the two. If Nashville's Bridgestone Arena wasn't located in the city's downtown core, there's a chance "Smashville" doesn't even exist. Lacking a downtown arena is a major reason teams such as Ottawa, Arizona, and Florida struggle to sell out.In addition to increased attendance, having a downtown arena can affect a city's culture. Crowds pile outside of the building to take part in festivities and watch the game on the big screen during the playoffs, and you can bet Vegas will have something similar if the Golden Knights ever make noise in the postseason.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Desirable tourist destinationAfter seeing the ongoing party in the streets during the Stanley Cup Final - and the atmosphere in the arena - it's safe to say that seeing an NHL game in Nashville is on just about every hockey fan's bucket list.If Vegas can follow suit, even with half the crowd energy, it will be a desirable tourist destination for hockey fans, especially given the abundance of other entertainment the city has to offer.Just win, babyParty atmosphere aside, Music City's continent-wide surge in popularity is because of one thing: winning.Like almost all expansion teams, the Predators struggled in the early going, failing to make the playoffs in each of their first five seasons. However, they kept the fan base interested by eventually reeling off a run of seven playoff appearances in eight seasons. Sustained success after the "new-team shine" wears off is crucial for any young franchise.However, perhaps the biggest takeaway from Nashville's success for Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is the importance of stability within an organization. David Poile has been the Predators' only general manager, and Peter Laviolette is just the second head coach in the club's history. George McPhee and Gerard Gallant are in it for the long haul in Vegas, and they need to receive the proper amount of slack to figure it out - just like Poile and Barry Trotz did.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This Stanley Cup Final certainly hasn't lacked drama, and there's no shortage of compelling plot lines heading into Sunday's Game 6.The Pittsburgh Penguins can repeat as champions with a victory, but the fans at Bridgestone Arena will be hell-bent on throwing the visitors off their game in the Nashville Predators' final home date of the season.It's nail-biting time for supporters of the two clubs, but it's a win-win for hockey fans who don't have a horse in the race, as they'll either witness a back-to-back title victory or be gifted with a Game 7 in the Cup Final for the first time since 2011.Here are three interesting storylines to ponder in Game 6:Will Subban regret irking Crosby?P.K. Subban has done his best to get under the skin of Sidney Crosby, but the Predators defenseman's efforts may continue to bring out the best in the Penguins' leader.Subban has gone at Crosby all series, most notably getting in his grill near the end of Game 3, joking that the Penguins' leader said he had bad breath, and pinning his foot with what Crosby called "some UFC move" during their Game 5 tussle.The Nashville blueliner would probably say he has no regrets about repeatedly egging on arguably the NHL's best player, but Crosby responded to their Game 3 confrontation with his only goal of the series in Game 4, so a similar on-ice answer could be coming on the heels of their Game 5 wrestling match.The 'rookie' might do it again(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The fact the NHL still considers Matt Murray a rookie is a bit ridiculous, but what he's doing at his age needs to be acknowledged.He could hoist the Stanley Cup for the second time in as many seasons, and given that the Penguins goaltender turned 23 less than three weeks ago, that's pretty remarkable.Murray has been much better at home this postseason, but earning a championship-clinching victory in hostile territory would help to quiet that narrative and make his early-career accomplishments even more impressive.Malkin, Crosby can ascend to new heights(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The legacies of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will be just fine regardless of the outcome of this game, thank you very much, but the two superstars can take their status as a dynamic duo to a new level with a win Sunday.They'll have two cracks at it, but a victory in Game 6 would ensure them of membership in the rather exclusive club of legendary teammates who've won three championships together, joining the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, and other greats including Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.Strong performances in Game 6 from the two stars would also further state their case to share the Conn Smythe Trophy for their contributions this spring.They've carried a Penguins squad that was once again decimated by injuries, combining for 18 goals and 55 points in this playoff run.No sensible person is questioning Crosby and Malkin's place in history, but another victory would put them in rarefied air.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.We're working our way from blue-collar players at the bottom to top-dollar names who headline the list. Here are the UFAs ranked 50-41:50. Deryk Engelland (D)Age on Oct. 1: 35

The only thing better than Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final is Game 7.If "Winner gets the Cup" is played, it will be contested Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Whether it happens is up to the Nashville Predators. And the Penguins, too, we suppose.Here's the tale of the tape after five games, each won by the home team:TeamWLGFGASFSASV%PP%PK%Penguins321713115147.9129.1% (2-for-22)71.4% (10-for-14)Predators231317147115.85228.6% (4-for-14)90.9% (20-for-22)Game 6 is at 8 p.m. ET in Nashville.Is the Stanley Cup Final going the distance?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Do or die. Win or go home. Leave it all on the line.Pick your cliche, because they all apply to the Nashville Predators in advance of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.Bridgestone Arena will no doubt be rocking Sunday, partly due to excitement and partly due to the nausea-inducing anxiety that comes when a team is facing elimination in a championship series.In order to push the series to a decisive Game 7 back in Pittsburgh, the Predators will need to provide the right answers to the following questions:Will Ryan Ellis play?After being forced out of Game 5 with an unspecified injury, Ellis' availiability for Game 6 is up in the air, and that could spell big trouble for Nashville."He's obviously a huge part of our defense," Ellis' defense partner Roman Josi said Saturday, per Robby Stanley of NHL.com. "He's been unbelievable all season. He's been great in the playoffs."His hockey sense is really good. He makes the right plays, he always makes the right decision and he's a great leader on our team."While Ellis averages the fewest minutes among Nashville's formidable defensive foursome - which also includes Josi, P.K. Subban, and Mattias Ekholm - he ranks second to Josi in goals (five) and points (13). He's also played a huge role in keeping the opposition at bay with solid play in his own zone.Ellis didn't skate Saturday, and Matt Irwin is expected to see an uptick in minutes if Ellis can't go. That drop off may be too big to overcome.Which Pekka Rinne will show up?It's been a tale of two Rinne's so far during the Cup Final.In Pittsburgh, he's been, in a word, bad. But on home ice, he's given his team a fighting chance, and he'll need to post similar numbers in order to push the series to seven games.Here's a look at Rinne's roller coaster ride over the past five games.GameVenueResultShots AgainstSavesSave %1PITL 3-5117.6362PITL 1-42521.8493NSHW 5-12827.9644NSHW 4-12423.9585PITL 0-696.667At this point, Nashville's best hope is to hold serve at home and hope Rinne can pretend Game 7 is being played at Bridgestone. Recent history suggests the former is entirely possible, if not probable.Can Filip Forsberg beat Matt Murray?Game 6 would be the perfect time for Forsberg to break out.After having shared the regular-season team lead in goals with Viktor Arvidsson (31), Forsberg leads Nasvhille once again with nine in the postseason. Only one of those, however, has come against the Penguins, and that was into an empty net to boot.So far, Forsberg has fired 13 shots on Murray, with nothing to show for it.This is where the loss of center Ryan Johansen is being felt, and hopefully someone, anyone, can get Forsberg the puck with some regularity on Sunday.Arvidsson, by the way, has one goal on seven shots against Murray, and he too would do well to find the back of the net before it's too late.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby is walking the walk.For the second year in a row, the Washington Capitals goalie showed his support for the LGBTQ community by participating in the Capital Pride Parade along with his wife Brandy.

Matt Cullen would love nothing more than to go out on top.The Pittsburgh Penguins center has admitted it's probable he'll retire at season's end and head home to Minnesota with his family. Ideally, that'll happen on a winning note."It’s pretty likely that this will be the end, and if it is, I’d love it to be holding that sucker again," Cullen said of the Cup, per Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune. "That would be pretty unreal. We’re so close."Related: Penguins' Sullivan views Cullen as 'extension of our coaching staff'A series win over the Nashville Predators would make the 40-year-old a three-time Cup champion, previously hoisting "that sucker" as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes (2006) and last year with the Penguins.Just don't expect Cullen to pull a Mark Recchi and make an announcement amid a Cup celebration."I know enough just to give myself time," the 19-year NHL veteran said. "It’s a decision that deserves a little time. It carries a lot of weight, for me at least. I’ll get away from it, and then decide."The Penguins are one win away from another Cup, with Game 6 set for Sunday in Nashville. Cullen has contributed two goals and seven assists in 24 games this postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shayne Gostisbehere and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed on a six-year, $27-million extension Friday (with a $4.5-million cap hit), locking up the 24-year-old defenseman through the 2022-23 season.After Gostisbehere racked up 17 goals and 29 assists in an enthralling 64-game rookie campaign, the Flyers' dynamic rearguard dipped to seven goals and 39 points in 76 contests in 2016-17, a regression that likely saved Philadelphia's brass a pretty penny.Gostisbehere's new deal is great for the Flyers' books, but since he's the first of numerous defensemen needing fresh contracts to sign this offseason, it also sets a precedent for what comparable players will request - and ultimately earn - in negotiations this summer.For reference, here are the contract figures and stats of four notable would-be restricted free-agent defensemen that signed extensions in 2016.PlayerTeamAgeCareer P/GPContractMorgan RiellyMaple Leafs230.386Y/$30MJacob TroubaJets230.382Y/$6MHampus LindholmDucks230.376Y/$31.5MRasmus RistolainenSabres220.406Y/$32.4MLet's look at three prominent RFA blue-liners and how Gostisbehere's pact might affect them.RFAsColton Parayko

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan had some high praise for his veteran forward following Saturday's practice."I look at (Matt Cullen) as an extension of our coaching staff," Sullivan told Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That's how highly we think of him."Cullen has played 19 seasons in the NHL, so this amount of respect comes with good measure. Having such a veteran leader is crucial on a team with several young players, such as Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary, in their first or second year in the league.Though he's certainly a valuable asset off the ice, Cullen has proven to be just as valuable on the ice.Without the injured Nick Bonino in the lineup the past three games, he has stepped into a third-line role, averaging more than 17 minutes per night. That's a lot when you consider he's 40 years old, making him the third-oldest active player behind Shane Doan (40 years, 243 days) and Jaromir Jagr (44).His biggest contributions have come in the faceoff circle, where he's won 60 percent of his draws in the last three games and 56.5 percent overall in the postseason.The grizzled veteran is seeking his third Stanley Cup ring. Given his winning pedigree and his proven leadership qualities, it wouldn't be surprising if Cullen got into coaching after he hangs 'em up.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Housley will reportedly sit down with the Buffalo Sabres when the Stanley Cup Final is over.The Buffalo Sabres are waiting for the championship round to conclude before interviewing the Nashville Predators assistant coach for their head coaching vacancy, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Housley joined the Predators' coaching staff in the spring of 2013, about five months after guiding the United States to a gold-medal victory in the World Junior Championship.He has a long history of experience with USA Hockey as a coach and a player, and ranks fourth all time in points by a defenseman in NHL history.The Stanley Cup Final resumes with Game 6 on Sunday night, and if necessary, Game 7 will be played Wednesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.We're working our way up from No. 80 to No. 1, with that, here are the 65-51 ranked UFAs heading into July 1:65. Jay McClement (F)Age on Oct. 1: 34

The Florida Panthers are closing in on a deal that would make San Jose Sharks assistant Bob Boughner the club's new head coach, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Saturday morning.It will mark Boughner's first NHL head coaching position, and he'll become the 15th bench boss in Panthers history. McKenzie adds the team is expected to officially announce the hiring Monday.Boughner has been with the Sharks since 2015, and previously served as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11. However, the 46-year-old spent eight seasons as head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, winning back-to-back Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010. He also suited up in 630 NHL games, recording 72 points and 1,382 penalty minutes as a defenseman.The Panthers reportedly also considered former Canadiens coach Michel Therrien, Capitals assistant Todd Reirden, and the University of Denver's Jim Montgomery as candidates for the position.With Boughner in the fold, Florida will hope for some consistency behind the bench after a tumultuous 2016-17 campaign that included the controversial firing of Gerard Gallant in November.Gallant's since been hired to coach in Vegas, and with Boughner apparently bound for Sunrise, that leaves the Buffalo Sabres as the lone NHL team with a head coaching vacancy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story/video contains coarse language.Maybe they should wash their mouths out with soap instead of Listerine.The back-and-forth between P.K. Subban and Sidney Crosby near the end of Game 3 provided days of subsequent gamesmanship between the two stars and some skepticism among fans and media as to what was actually uttered, but now we can put it all to rest.Thanks to Showtime's "All Access: Quest for the Stanley Cup" series, we can hear the actual exchange in a brief clip from Friday's episode that circulated around social media and later landed on YouTube.Here's a transcript:

Shayne Gostisbehere became a student of the game.The 24-year-old defenseman, who signed a six-year, $27-million extension with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, learned lessons that should help him live up to his newly minted contract during his third NHL season.After notching 46 points and finishing second in Calder Trophy voting as a rookie in 2015-16, Gostisbehere took a step back in his sophomore campaign, sliding to 39 points despite playing in 12 more games.On five occasions in that second season, coach Dave Hakstol scratched Gostisbehere - breathers that gave the young defenseman the opportunity to better understand the NHL level."A lot of players are handed unlimited ice time, unlimited roles, because all the way up they are the best player on their team," general manager Ron Hextall said in a conference call. "There are lessons that a lot of them have to go through as pros and 'Ghost' went through some of those last year. He's clearly going to be a better player because of it."Sometimes there is a little bit of tough love and Shayne got a little bit of tough love last year. I think if you asked him now he would think it's not necessarily a bad thing. Every player gets disappointed at some point in their career and you need to learn to deal with it."Despite the down season, Gostisbehere led all Philadelphia blue-liners in scoring, while averaging 19:35 of ice time, third among Flyers' defensemen. With a new contract in hand, he now sits behind only Andrew MacDonald as the team's second-highest paid defenseman.As far as the Flyers are concerned, it's money well spent, trusting that Gostisbehere will continue to grow as a player."You can't get the best of your people if a young player thinks, 'I'm in the lineup 82 games no matter what, no matter how I play,'" Hextall added. "If they've got to go through a little adversity, they've got to go through it."We all know his upside ... He certainly fits into our vision moving forward."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no need to back up the moving vans.That's because the Calgary Flames won't load up their pucks and sticks for a relocation to La Belle province, Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume told Eva Ferguson of the Calgary Herald."It's a negotiating strategy. We're used to it," Labeaume said Thursday. "Everyone is calm, the Flames will not come to Quebec."The quote from the mayor came one day after Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke said the team could leave Calgary if it doesn't get a new arena. Burke doubled down on the stance of Flames CEO Ken King, who in April stated the team wouldn't just threaten to move, but would simply leave if a new facility in Calgary didn't come to fruition.Since 1983, the Flames have played out of Scotiabank Saddledome, which will become the NHL's oldest arena next season (1968-built Madison Square Garden underwent a $1-billion revitalization in 2013). Two years ago, the Flames launched CalgaryNEXT, an $890-million proposal that includes a new arena for the Flames and a new fieldhouse for the CFL's Stampeders. Both entities are owned by Calgary Sports and Entertainment.Speaking before the Canadian Club of Calgary on Wednesday, Burke likened the Flames' need for a new arena to that of their rival Edmonton Oilers, who this season cut the ribbon on Rogers Place. The Oilers' arena broke ground in 2014, after owner Daryl Katz floated the possibility of moving the team to Seattle if Edmonton would not agree to build a new home for the hockey team.The Oilers' arena cost $480 million, largely funded through public sources. The Flames have proposed a similar arrangement with the City of Calgary, with $200 million paid by the team, with additional funds generated through ticket surcharges. Public funds would cover the remainder of the project costs.If King, and now Burke, are to be believed, the Flames could leave Calgary if the city balks at a new arena. Questioned by a luncheon attendee about where the Flames could relocate to, Burke responded, "You don't think we could find a place to go? With a straight face you're saying that? Quebec. Let's see, they have a brand new building that meets NHL standards."The Quebec capital recently unveiled the NHL-ready Videotron Centre, a facility with 18,000-plus seats that opened its doors in 2015. The arena cost $370 million and was funded entirely by city and provincial taxpayers.Quebecor Inc. also submitted a bid as part of the NHL's recent expansion process in hopes of landing a franchise for Quebec City, but was ultimately unsuccessful, with the league choosing to add a team in Las Vegas. Quebec City has not been home to the NHL since the Nordiques uprooted for Colorado in 1995.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights, or a friend of the Golden Knights we should say, would like to know how the Anaheim Ducks will approach the expansion draft.The Ducks' Twitter account asked users if they had questions about the draft and a certain Golden Knights account piped up.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.The deal is reportedly worth $27 million over six years, averaging out to a $4.5-million salary cap hit, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 24-year-old completed his second full season with the Flyers last year, finishing with seven goals and 32 assists in 76 games.Philadelphia selected Gostisbehere in the third round of the 2012 draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been said about Sidney Crosby before, but it bears repeating: He is a movie. A very good one that only gets better.A dominant three-assist performance in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday has folks fawning over No. 87 again, and rightfully so, as he's on the cusp of his third ring. But the truth is that we take Crosby for granted.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)And what's left to say about Sid? For the Nashville Predators to pull off a miracle, to come back and win the Stanley Cup by winning two in a row, not only must they win a game on the road, in Pekka Rinne's personal house of horrors, they must win said game on the road against Crosby. Sorry, Nashville, but that's not likely to happen.Crosby only winsYou don't - you can't - bet against Crosby.Looking back, it's hard to believe he lost a Stanley Cup Final. It happened, though, in 2008, despite Crosby's 27 points in 20 playoff games (tied with Henrik Zetterberg for the league lead, though the Red Wing played two more games) - and Crosby hasn't lost since.Think about it: His first Stanley Cup in 2009, to make sure the feelings of 2008 didn't last any longer than they needed to; a gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, thanks to his overtime goal on home soil; another Olympic gold in 2014, when Canada laughed the competition out of Sochi; some more gold at the 2015 worlds; his second Stanley Cup in 2016, and his first Conn Smythe Trophy. You know what's coming next.

The Nashville Predators will have Colton Sissons at their disposal Sunday in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.The forward won't be suspended after being issued a match penalty at the end of Game 5 for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta in the face, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

The greatest perk of making the Stanley Cup Final is without a doubt getting the "Tonight Show Superlatives" treatment from Jimmy Fallon.Fallon and "The Tonight Show" writers truly outdid themselves this year, providing hilarious "most likely to" references for the photos of several players on the Penguins and Predators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Nashville Predators trail the Pittsburgh Penguins three games to two in the first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history - and the first for many of their star players - they need only look across the ice for inspiration.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was booted from Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on Thursday.The Penguins cruised to a 6-0 victory on home ice, sending the series back to Nashville with an opportunity to win their second consecutive Cup.Boswell was fired up after the Penguins, carrying a huge third-period lead, won two fights, and was ejected for banging on the glass.

There have been two major talking points as to why the Predators, the NHL's 16th seed, have been able to make it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final:1) The play of goaltender Pekka Rinne

Olli Maatta is apparently no worse for wear.Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said Friday that his defenseman is "fine" despite taking a cross-check to the nose from Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons in the final minute of Game 5 on Thursday night.Here's a look at the incident, which drew a match penalty, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.Sissons was automatically suspended pending a review by commissioner Gary Bettman, but the league announced Friday that the Predators center won't be suspended for Game 6.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.We're going to start at the bottom and work our way towards the top. Up first, UFAs ranked 80-6680. Ondrej Pavelec (G)Age on Oct. 1: 30

In this week's edition of "On the Fly," we're talking Music City Miracle Part II. The Nashville Predators must win two in a row against the Penguins, one of those in Pittsburgh, to win the Stanley Cup. Can it be done?Absolutely notJosh Wegman: Given how desperate the Predators will be in Game 6, and the fact they'll have their amazing crowd behind them, I think they can force a Game 7. But can they win Game 7? Absolutely not.Pekka Rinne's numbers have been subpar away from Bridgestone Arena this postseason, and his career numbers in Pittsburgh are horrendous.If Nashville is going to win the remaining two games, Rinne will have to be at his best, and I'm not quite sure he's capable of that on the road, especially given Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are playing some of their best hockey.Believe!Esten McLaren: Yes.The Penguins aren't winning a do-or-die Game 6 in Music City during CMA weekend. Pittsburgh fell flat in a 2-1 loss following its 7-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, so its 6-0 win in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final means little.Game 7 will return to Pittsburgh, forcing Nashville to be the first team to win a road game in this series. The Predators own a Corsi For rating of 59.26 percent through the first three games in Pittsburgh. It will come down to goaltending, and while Matt Murray has had a significant advantage over Pekka Rinne at PPG Paints Arena, the Preds only need Rinne to be average while continuing to drive play in Pittsburgh's end to make this happen.Rinne can't possibly be worse, right?NopeJosh Gold-Smith: In a word, no.Sure, the Predators have history on their side with respect to Game 6, and it wouldn't be shocking to see Nashville bounce back with a victory Sunday night, but winning the series is another story.Given how abysmal Pekka Rinne has been in Pittsburgh, and how his relatively inexperienced backup, Juuse Saros, hasn't been much better, it's hard to see the Predators prevailing in a winner-take-all game on the road if they do force the deciding contest.Matt Murray has been nearly unbeatable on home ice in this series, so even if the Predators take the next one, they'll be hard-pressed to buck these ominous trends.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gregory Campbell's playing career is over.The veteran forward is hanging up his skates after 11 NHL seasons to join the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant player development coach."I had a lot of time to think about things over the last six or seven months," Campbell told Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch."I wasn't ready to stop playing, but that's how it ends for most guys, and when it happens, you've got to move on. I feel like I have a lot to offer, but I also have a lot to learn, too, and the management group here was willing to give me an opportunity that will let me experience different parts of the game."Campbell will work with Blue Jackets player development coaches Chris Clark and Jarkko Ruutu to help guide the organization's top prospects in North America and Europe.The 33-year-old was Columbus' final cut in training camp last fall, after which the club suspended him for his refusal to report to the AHL.The Blue Jackets terminated his contract in December.Campbell leaves the game having collected 71 goals and 187 points in 803 games, while racking up 696 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011, and appears to have few regrets about his NHL tenure as a whole."I'm proud of what I accomplished in my playing career," Campbell said. "I won't ever be looked at as one of the greats, but I did everything I could to be the best player I could be. Nothing will be as much fun as playing, but there's a lot more to hockey, and I'm learning that now. I'm excited to help young guys find their way."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somewhere, Dana White is smiling.Sidney Crosby says P.K. Subban was channeling his inner mixed martial artist when the two stars got tangled up in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.Crosby repeatedly pushed the Nashville Predators defenseman's head into the ice during their tussle late in the first period, but the Pittsburgh Penguins captain insisted postgame he was merely defending himself."He lost his stick. He was doing some UFC move on my foot, so I don't know what he was trying to do," Crosby told reporters, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "I was trying to get out of there. He had lost his stick, he (was) just trying to hold me down. I don't know what he was trying to do with my ankle."Crosby was asked if that's why he resorted to hitting Subban's head several times."Yeah," he replied. "I was in some kind of lock he had going on there. I don't know what it was."Both players were given minor penalties for the dustup, but clearly their feud - which has manifested itself both on and off the ice - is far from over.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A hockey game broke out at the wrestling match Thursday night.Star players Sidney Crosby and P.K. Subban have been going at it throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and frustration finally broke through in Game 5, when the two tussled in first period.Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said after the game he was confused by the call, which saw both players sent to the box for two minutes."I don't understand it," he told TSN's Frank Seravalli. "I saw my guy's head get cross-checked into the ice 10 times. I disagree with the call."Though both parties were clearly guilty, Laviolette's gripe likely stems from the point of the bout when Crosby was on top of Subban, and got in a few shots to the head while the latter was on the ice.Will there be a rematch in Game 6 on Sunday? Only time will tell.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators aren't the only team to drop a game by a touchdown this spring, having been trounced 6-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday. In fact, three teams have lost by six or more goals in these playoffs.Luckily for the Preds, teams have been able to reverse their fortunes after suffering a big loss in these playoffs.Round 1, Game 4: Sharks 7 - Oilers 0After a trouncing in Game 4, the Edmonton Oilers came back to win two in a row against the San Jose Sharks, including an overtime victory in Game 5 before sealing the series two nights later.Round 2, Game 6: Oilers 7 - Ducks 1This time, the Oilers were on the other side of the scoreboard. With their playoff lives on the line, the Oilers pasted the Anaheim Ducks 7-1. But it was the Ducks who got the last laugh, taking the series in seven with a 2-1 victory.Round 3, Game 5: Penguins 7 - Senators 0Lucky No. 7 appeared again in the Conference Finals, as the Penguins crushed the Ottawa Senators, with Evgeni Malkin's three-point night leading the way. But two nights later, the Senators capitalized to even the series with a 2-1 victory in Game 6.Nashville hopes to be the fourth team to turn the trick this postseason, and will need to do so Sunday on home ice to keep its Stanley Cup dreams alive.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A win in Game 6 for the Nashville Predators will be a bittersweet for Pekka Rinne. On one hand, he will get to play for the Stanley Cup. On the other, he will have to return to PPG Paints Arena.The veteran netminder has had a strong postseason for the most part, but there isn't an arena he despises more than the one the Penguins call home.For the second time this series, the Predators starter was pulled, further inflating his already poor numbers in Pittsburgh. Whether it be during the regular season or the postseason, the Penguins have not been kind hosts to Rinne.Career regular season in PittsburghGPWLSAGASV%GAA3039013.8564.96Career playoffs in PittsburghGPWLSAGASV%GAA3034511.7565.41In all, Rinne has a career save percentage of .822 in Pittsburgh while allowing 24 goals on 135 shots.If the Predators and Rinne can be confident about one thing, it's that Rinne has been stellar at home in these playoffs, holding a 9-1 record with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage, so there should be no short of confidence heading into Game 6.But if they return to Pittsburgh for a Game 7, that might be another story.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Murray continues to live up to the hype.The Pittsburgh Penguins netminder posted a shutout in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators, stopping 24 shots in a 6-0 rout by the Penguins.It was a critical victory for Murray, who entered the contest with his record on the line - he had never lost three consecutive games prior to Thursday's affair, and the win in Game 5 kept that mark intact.After taking the first two games of the series, the Penguins dropped the following two road games in Nashville, contests in which Murray combined for a 4.01 GAA and lowly .862 save percentage.But Murray has been a different animal on home ice, turning aside 84 of the 88 shots the Predators have directed toward his cage.The 23-year-old will have a chance to capture his second Stanley Cup on Sunday when the Penguins head to Nashville for Game 6.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pekka Rinne's struggles in Pittsburgh have his Nashville Predators on the brink of elimination.The Penguins overwhelmed Rinne and the Predators again, sending Nashville's star goaltender to the bench in Pittsburgh for a second straight game in the Stanley Cup Final. He was pulled after the first period by coach Peter Laviolette after surrendering half the goals in a 6-0 rout by the Penguins in Game 5 on Thursday night.The Predators are in a 3-2 hole with Game 6 coming up Sunday night in Nashville.''It wasn't good,'' Laviolette said. ''It's not the first period that we were looking for and it didn't really get much better after that. Definitely things we could've done better defensively.''Nashville rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the best-of-seven series and the home team has won all five games. Nashville is also a comfortable 9-1 in the playoffs at home, and teams that lost Game 5 of a tied Final have won the Stanley Cup four of the last eight times, including Pittsburgh in 2009.But the Predators had little to enjoy from this one.Phil Kessel scored his eighth of the playoffs and added two assists, while Sidney Crosby tallied three assists. Evgeni Malkin scored his 10th and had an assist, while Ron Hainsey also had a goal and an assist. Justin Schultz, Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary also scored for the Penguins, who have outscored Nashville 15-4 in Pittsburgh.Rinne made six saves on nine shots, while Juuse Saros, making his second career playoff appearance, stopped 12 shots.It was a familiar showing for Rinne: The three-time Vezina Trophy finalist allowed eight goals on just 36 shots during the first two games in Pittsburgh.Rinne, the playoff leader in wins and goals-against average, rebounded in a big way for Games 3 and 4 in Nashville, limiting Pittsburgh to a just two goals on 52 shots as the Predators evened the series.But Rinne struggled again Thursday in Pittsburgh, a place where he's never started and won in six career games. He gave up two goals in the first 6:43 of the game and it never got better.Rinne now owns a career 5.15 goals-against average and .822 save percentage in Pittsburgh. He has allowed 11 goals on 45 shots in seven periods of play during the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh.''We've got to be better in front of him. ... I don't think that necessarily they were bad goals,'' Laviolette said. ''Our guys have a tremendous amount of confidence him. We just have to do a better job in front of him.''Crosby started the first-period surge for Pittsburgh when he split Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis on the opening shift of the game and hit the post. That shift led to a Predators' penalty and the game's first goal on Pittsburgh's ensuing power play, as Schultz beat Rinne with a point shot that went between his pads.Rust beat Rinne to the glove side with a backhander a little more than five minutes later and Malkin made it 3-0 with 10.2 seconds left in the first period.Saros relieved Rinne to start the second, but Pittsburgh upped its lead to 4-0 just 1:19 into the period on Sheary's goal from Crosby. Kessel scored his first in six games, making it 5-0 later in the period, while Hainsey capped Pittsburgh's second three-goal period of the game.---More AP NHL: http://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockeyCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby caused a bit of an uproar Thursday with the slip of a hand in Game 5 against the Nashville Predators.From the bench, and with a water bottle in hand, Crosby gestured to the on-ice officials after Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm retaliated on a hit by Penguins forward Chris Kunitz.But the motion was a tad too strong from Crosby, as the bottled slipped from his hand and onto the ice. He later quipped to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, "I know it looks bad, but I'm a righty and I've got a better arm than that."Throwing objects on the ice typically results in a delay of game penalty, but no call was made, likely because the officials deemed it unintentional.Check out the sequence here:Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.