Stanley Cup Final: Ryan Ellis goal gives Nashville life in Game 1

The Predators defenseman made it a game with a blast on the power play.

The Nashville Predators won’t go down easily in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, it seems. Defenseman Ryan Ellis scored a second-period power-play goal to make it 3-1 after the Preds surrendered three goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the game’s first frame.

Ellis threaded the puck through teammate Viktor Arvidsson’s legs to put it past goalie Matt Murray, who probably couldn’t see much. The goal, assisted by PK Subban and Mike Fisher, is a much-welcomed burst of life for Nashville, who seemed all but out of it after the Penguins dominated the end of the first period.

The Preds jumped on this power-play opportunity after Ian Cole took a roughing penalty at 6:39. Their success this time around made up for a poor attempt minutes earlier when they failed to capitalize on Olli Maatta’s interference minor in the opening stages of the second period.

The goal is Ellis’s fifth of the playoffs, bringing his point total up to 12. Ellis is second on the Preds in scoring this postseason, and second among all defensemen in the NHL (behind only Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators).

Nashville will now try to fight back in this game, hoping not to fall behind 1-0 in this Stanley Cup Final. They thought they’d taken the lead early on, but PK Subban’s hard shot was disallowed because of an offside review. The Penguins then went on to score three times in quick succession to make it 3-0.

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The Predators and Penguins will meet again on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, where Nashville will try to even the series if they can’t come back tonight. The final then moves to Tennessee for the first time, with Game 3 slated for next Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.