The Stanley Cup Final heads to Nashville for the first time ever as the Pittsburgh Penguins look to take a stranglehold on the series. Starting at a possible 3-0 series deficit, the Predators cannot afford to lose game three on their home ice. The Bridgestone Arena is absolutely rocking for its first ever Stanley Cup Final game. Here is how game three played out.

As expected, the fans in Nashville are into it as the puck gets dropped, however, the crowd is quickly silenced just 2:46 into the game as, who else, Jake Guentzel slides the puck under Rinne’s pads and gives Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. This is Guentzel’s 13th goal of the playoffs.

Another look at Guentzel’s goal pic.twitter.com/rjcMtZ7xcO — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

The Predators would respond to the early goal with a solid push throughout the rest of the period, however, Murray was standing tall in net. The Guentzel goal would be the lone tally in the first period, so after 1 it was Penguins 1, Predators 0.

The second period started and Nashville came out like it was the last period of their season. They were absolutely flying around the ice, and the crowd loved it. Justin Schultz would take a minor penalty for holding, putting Nashville on the power play, and they took advantage.

Roman Josi would fire a slap shot that would deflect off of the Penguins’ defender and just go over Murray’s pad. The Bridgestone Arena would erupt as Nashville ties the game 1-1 5:51 into the second period. The goal was Josi’s 6th of the playoffs.

Josi ties it up on the power play pic.twitter.com/3GcaHs81r6 — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

But Nashville was not done there.

Under a minute after Josi’s goal, Frederick Gaudreau would walk into the slot and whistle a wrist shot over the glove of Murray and give Nashville the lead, 2-1. The goal came at 6:33 and was Gaudreau’s 2nd of the playoffs.

Freddy Hockey gives Nashville the lead pic.twitter.com/eMdVTIIGBr — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

The second period would continue to be Nashville’s up until defenseman Ryan Ellis would get called for a boarding penalty. The boarding was a minor penalty and gave Pittsburgh an opportunity to tie the game up. They could not capitalize on the chance and shortly after Nashville would strike again.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the second period, James Neal would find an opening on the left side of the net and bank the puck in off of an unsuspecting Murray. The goal once again sent the crowd into a frenzy and also gave Nashville a 3-1 lead. The goal came at 19:37 of the period and was Neal’s 6th of the playoffs.

James Neal scores, makes it 3-1 Preds pic.twitter.com/nASoa1rTHI — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

The third period would start much like the second period, with Nashville putting a goal on the board. Nashville’s Craig Smith would take advantage of a gift wrapped break away chance after Chris Kunitz tried to deke around teammate Phil Kessel. The puck would deflect off of Kessel’s skate, leading to the great chance for Smith. Bad luck for Pittsburgh, as Nashville would take a commanding 3 goal lead in the third period. The goal was Smith’s first of the playoffs.

Kunitz skates into Kessel, gives Craig Smith a breakaway…4-1 Predators pic.twitter.com/pLuwo1Ra52 — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

The Penguins would try to claw their way back into the game, but this night belonged to the Predators as Rinne stood tall and gave Pittsburgh no opportunity of making a comeback. Rinne desperately needed to put on a good performance, as he had been the scapegoat for Predator fans so far in this series after the first two games. Not tonight, however, as he would stop 27 of 28 shots, leading to a .964 save percentage.

Nashville would tally another goal late in the third period to seal the deal in game three. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm would skate uncontested down the slot and rifle a slap shot past the blocker of Murray, making it 5-1 Nashville. It was Ekholm’s first goal of the playoffs.

Ekholm hammers one and it’s 5-1 Preds pic.twitter.com/8PA1w1jBmJ — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 4, 2017

The horn would sound seven minutes later and Nashville wins game three by a score of 5-1, scoring 5 unanswered goals. The win cuts the Penguins’ series lead to 2-1, with Nashville looking to even things up on Monday night back in Nashville. This game will be remembered for a longtime in Nashville, because this was the city’s first ever Stanley Cup Final game and their team put on a great performance, dominating the defending champs 5-1. Rinne was solid in net, silencing those who believed he should not have played in this game. If Nashville can get quality goaltending game in and game out, then this series will be very interesting.

Game four will be Monday night at 8pm ET on NBC.