Wow, now that was an entertaining Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. It had everything – and then some! We had video review, two penalties called on one team at the same time, a big lead and a comeback, and the game-winning goal scored by a player who almost wasn’t in the lineup.
We even saw a catfish thrown on the ice that spurred the comeback. How in the heck are these two teams going to follow it up for Game 2? I’ll tell you how – they’ll do it in spectacular fashion, that’s how.
Game 2 Stanley Cup Final Odds and Picks
The Nashville Predators battled a lot of adversity in the first game of this series. Pittsburgh and the referees threw everything at them, and they still fought back. In fact, Pittsburgh didn’t have a shot for a 37-minute span at one point. Win or lose, that has got to give the Preds a ton of confidence.
It’s also why I believe that Nashville is a strong bet for game 2 Stanley Cup Final odds. Installed as an underdog by NHL odds experts, how in the world do you bet against them to battle back and tie up this series? They’ve done it versus every other opponent in these playoffs.
Overall, Nashville dominated play in the first game. I would go so far as to say that they should be favored in Game 2!
So if you take away the bizarre flow and feel of Game 1, I expect a 1-0 or 2-1 Predators win in Game 2. Look for Pekka Rinne to play unbelievably, for PK Subban to score from the point (seeing as he got a goal called back in Game 1) and for Filip Forsberg to be every bit as good as Sidney Crosby will be for the Penguins.
Matthew Ross is a sports commentator and a radio host on TSN 690 Radio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Follow him @MatthewWords.