Stanley Cup Finals: Evgeni Malkin snipe gives Penguins 3-0 lead (Video)

Evgeni Malkin gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-0 lead just before the end of the first period in Game 5. 

Entering Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the series was tied at two games apiece. Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators have won their two home games. Once again, the host has gotten off to an extremely strong start.

Evgeni Malkin’s goal just before the end of the first 20 minutes gives the Penguins a 3-0 lead.

After Justin Schultz and Bryan Rust gave the home team a 2-0 lead, the Predators were starting to get some chances. However, Malkin’s goal is a crippler. Nashville was going to go into the locker room only down 2-0. But now, for the second time this series, the Predators must try to overcome a 3-0 deficit. And for the second time, it’s after the first 20 minutes.

In Game 1, Nashville got down 3-0 to Pittsburgh early. However, they fought back to tie it, although Jake Guentzel’s third period goal gave the Penguins a much needed win.

Credit Phil Kessel for making this goal happen. Pretty much every Penguins fan wanted number 81 to shoot the puck, given his lack of shots this series. But Kessel knew what he was doing, waiting for the right moment to get the puck to Malkin, who had an easy goal. It’s those kind of defensive lapses that have the Predators down 3-0 to a very deadly team.

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Malkin now has a darn good case to be the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, should the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. He’s the leader in playoff scoring and trails only his teammate Guentzel in goals. This would be his second Conn Smythe, having won it during the 2008-09 postseason. Malkin’s one of the best postseason performers in the NHL and he’s showing why tonight.