Predators at Penguins
A visit from the Nashville Predators on Saturday night would normally provide a fond memory for the Pittsburgh Penguins -- a reminder of their six-game win in last season's Stanley Cup Finals. Yet the Penguins may be more preoccupied with notching their first win of this season and erasing the stench of their most lopsided defeat in 14 years.
Pittsburgh needed a late rally to earn a point in an overtime loss to St. Louis in its season opener, but that was followed up by a stunning 10-1 bludgeoning in Chicago -- the team's worst loss since a 9-0 setback in November 2003. “It's early, but it's disturbing,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “When you lose a game like that, it's disturbing. I don't care when it is in the season. We've got to do some soul searching. ... We've got a long way to go, and it starts with a mindset.” The Predators were dominated in a season-opening loss at Boston, although a pair of power-play goals in the final two minutes made the 4-3 result look more palatable than it was. "We were all embarrassed, quite honestly," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "None of us want to go through that experience."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), ATT Sportsnet-Pittsburgh
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (0-1-0): Center Nick Bonino was back in the lineup for the season opener -- his first action since fracturing his tibia against Nashville in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season -- and admitted he's eager to face his former teammates. "I'd like to get in Phil's (Kessel) face a bit," said Bonino, who had 18 goals and 19 assists last season. Forward Viktor Arvidsson is not resting on his laurels after signing a seven-year deal, scoring one goal and setting up another.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (0-1-1): Sullivan opted to cancel Friday's practice and instead opted for a video session, although he hinted to the media that there could be lineup changes forthcoming. Kessel, who leads the team with nine shots on goal in the first two games, tallied on the power play against Chicago and had a goal and three assists versus Nashville in the Stanley Cup Finals. Captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and six assists against the Predators in the Finals.
OVERTIME
1. The Penguins have not been winless in the first three games of a season since 2005-06.
2. Predators G Pekka Rinne has won only one of eight regular-season starts versus the Penguins and lost all three at Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
3. Despite yielding a league-worst 15 goals, Pittsburgh is 9 of 10 on the penalty kill.