The set-up: Despite getting out-played for most of the game, Pittsburgh built a 3-0 lead first period lead. However, after going more than 37 minutes without registering a shot on goal, the defending champs found themselves in a 3-3 tie. If it were a boxing match, the referee may have stopped the fight, but Jake Guentzel delivered the late tie-breaking tally (ending an eight-game goal-less drought) and an empty-netter made the final 5-3. "It's not textbook," said Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby after the Penguins finished with the fewest shots on goal (12) by a winning team in Stanley Cup history. "We've got some things we need to improve on." Crosby is bidding to become the first player to win the goal-scoring title and a Stanley Cup in the same season since Wayne Gretzky (1986-87). The Predators are now trailing in a series for the first time this postseason, which is saying something for a team that was the No. 8 seed in the West (worst record of all 16 playoff teams). Nashville will now try to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this postseason before the best-of-seven series shifts to Nashville. "I thought our guys played great," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said after Monday's game. "We hate the score, we hate the result, but we'll move forward. Right now we are 100 percent in a result-orientated business. I would rather be in their shoes. I would rather have that Game 1 win because you need four out of seven. Now it's down to six to try to grab the four."

Nashville: Pekka Rinne entered the Cup Finals with a 1.70 GAA and .941 save percentage but allowed four goals on just 11 shots (one was an "own goal"). He's eager to atone. "That's the best part in the playoffs," Rinne said. "You always get another opportunity, and that's going to happen on Wednesday, so I'm looking forward to that."Nashville can be happy that the team didn't stray far from its blueprint and all believe that they can bounce back to gain a split in Pittsburgh before the series shifts to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Pittsburgh: Penguins goalie Mark Murray was not at his best in Game 1, either. He entered the Finals with a 1.35 GAA and .946 save percentage in five games (four starts) but allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SP). Pittsburgh has to be thrilled to win a game it should have lost plus it also received the secondary scoring it had been missing. Conor Sheary, a 23-goal scorer during the regular season, notched his first of the playoffs and Guentzel registered his 10th of the postseason to lead all goal scorers (as noted, he ended an eight-game scoring drought!).

The pick: Both teams have positives to take away from in Game 1 and it's my belief that both goaltenders will bring their "A games" here in Game 2, which makes the Under a 10* play.