Nashville's a hockey town.

Predators supporters packed the building and the streets downtown for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the folks who paid to watch certainly got their money's worth, chanting in unison and letting Penguins goalie Matt Murray know that Pittsburgh's circumstances were all the goaltender's fault.

It's lit in Smashville, as the kids would say.

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It's hockey's version of "Where's Waldo?"

A fan of the Atlanta Thrashers was spotted amid a group of Nashville Predators fans who were creating a party atmosphere outside of Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Atlanta, of course, was a former geographic rival to the Predators. When the Thrashers uprooted for Winnipeg in 2011, the Predators put together a savvy promo effort to recruit Thrashers fans, including special ticket packages and the opportunity to swap your old Atlanta jersey for new Predators threads.

At least one fan needs to see if that offer still stands.

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Pekka Rinne, the Predators, and the entire city of Nashville needed those two saves. But especially Rinne.

Despite some foolish speculation that Rinne might watch Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final from the bench after two subpar efforts to begin the series, the Finn got the start and came up huge in the second period, stopping Phil Kessel's low shot and then reaching across his body to make a glove save on the rebound, which Chris Kunitz found in the slot.

They were timely saves, too, coming shortly after the Predators took their first lead of the series.

If Pekka's back, we may have a series.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel, but apparently the key to beating them is to stop Jake Guentzel.

Guentzel was at it again Saturday, opening the scoring in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final and quieting - briefly - the raucous crowd in Nashville.

The goal - which came before the first period was three minutes old - was Guentzel's 13th of the postseason, good for tops among all goal-scorers (with no other player even in double digits). It also puts him one tally away from tying Dino Ciccarelli's rookie playoff record of 14 (and one point away from tying Ciccarelli's and Ville Leino's rookie playoff points record of 21).

There's more: Guentzel's goal was his 50th of the season when taking into account his 21 goals in the AHL, 16 in the NHL regular season with Pittsburgh, and 13 in the postseason. And he's done it in only 95 games. Yeah.

There's more, still:

Guentzel has four goals in the series. The Predators have four goals in the series.

It's becoming increasingly likely that the 22-year-old from Omaha, Neb., may win the Conn Smythe Trophy. You can't make that stuff up.

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No Nick Bonino.

The PIttsburgh Penguins will be without the center in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Speedy Carl Hagelin draws into the Pens' lineup in Bonino's place. Hagelin's yet to play in the series.

Bonino was hurt after blocking a shot in Game 2. He arrived in Nashville on crutches while sporting a walking boot, yet was labeled a game-time decision.

After an impressive postseason last year, Hagelin hasn't been able to find success this time around. He has one goal in 11 games.

Bonino scored two goals in 15:59 in Pittsburgh's Game 1 win over Nashville. He was held pointless in 16:06 in Game 2.

Carter Rowney will play center with Bonino watching.

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Who says hockey can't work in Tennessee?

The Nashville Predators will host their first-ever Stanley Cup Final game Saturday, and a huge throng of fans was on hand more than three hours prior to puck drop, crowding bar-lined Broadway and the area surrounding Bridgestone Arena:

The Predators will look to pull within one game in the series after dropping the first two contests to the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

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Fitness testing at the NHL Scouting Combine is complete, and the projected top two picks are quite happy about the fact.

Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier each felt the burn during the Wingate cycle ergometer bike test Saturday, writes NHL.com's Mike Morreale.

"It was terrible," Patrick said, adding that the exercise caused him to lose his breakfast.

Patrick is the top-ranked skater ahead of the June 23 draft, while fellow forward Hischier is ranked second by NHL Central Scouting.

Here are their test results:

The New Jersey Devils will draft first overall, while the Philadelphia Flyers own the second overall selection.

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The incoming Vegas Golden Knights won't put together a deal to acquire Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin.

While a trade would reconnect Ovechkin with Golden Knights general manager George McPhee, who was at the Capitals' helm until 2014, he said it's not a move fans should expect to see in the coming weeks.

"That's not going to happen. Too many No. 8 jerseys in Washington," McPhee told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal of the fan enthusiasm for the Russian superstar in D.C.

Ovechkin's name joined the rumor mill when the Capitals lost again in the second round of the postseason. It was a disappointing finish for the Presidents' Trophy-winning team, which hasn't made it to the third round of the playoffs since 1998.

That's led to talk of change in Washington, and Ovechkin is a central part of those discussions. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan did little to quiet the murmurs earlier this week, when he left open the possibility that Washington could consider trading their leader if a "hockey deal" emerged.

The GM added that Vegas is unlikely to pursue Ovechkin's countryman, Ilya Kovalchuk, who's considering a return to the NHL after spending the past four seasons in the KHL.

"We haven't had any discussions and I don't imagine we'd go down that path," McPhee told reporters Saturday, via Sportsnet. "We'll be looking for younger players and people who will be with us three-to-four years from now."

Kovlachuk, 34, can return to the NHL if he signs with the New Jersey Devils, who hold his rights, at which point he can be dealt to another club.

While McPhee won't pursue either of the two Russians, he added that the Golden Knights are close to their first trade, and could have an announcement as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Vegas will make its expansion draft picks as part of the NHL Awards ceremony held June 21 at T-Mobile Arena, the team's home arena.

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Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee may favor familiarity when it comes to a few of his selections in the upcoming expansion draft.

The former Washington Capitals GM could try to snag current Philadelphia Flyers goaltender - and former Caps 'keeper - Michal Neuvirth if he's available, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

McPhee described Neuvirth as an athletic and "technically perfect" goaltender, and said "he's at that point where he can be really good."

Asked whether Neuvirth is a potential target for the Golden Knights, McPhee was less forthcoming, responding, "We'll see. I'm certainly not going to talk about who we might be interested in.

"I've said this 1,000 times: Until we see the whole universe of who's available and who we might like (it's tough to evaluate)."

The 29-year-old Neuvirth is signed to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.5 million. In 2016-17, he posted a .891 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average and a 11-11-1 record. His best season was his previous campaign with the Flyers, when he posted a .924 save percentage in 29 starts and 32 appearances.

Over a Capitals tenure that began in the 2008-09 season and ended with a March 2014 trade to the Buffalo Sabres, he compiled a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA, earning 105 starts.

Philadelphia will likely have to choose between protecting Neuvirth or 23-year-old goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz, a restricted free agent, posted a .928 save percentage in seven games with the Flyers last season. He was Philadelphia's second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

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New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist sustained a Grade 1 MCL sprain at the World Championship in May, the team confirmed to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.

The injury is not believed to be serious and Lundqvist is expected to be ready for training camp after some summer rehabilitation.

Lundqvist backstopped Sweden to a gold medal victory over Canada in a shootout, raising questions as to whether the injury was sustained after William Nylander tackled him in the ensuing celebration.

According to TSN's Ray Ferraro, however, the issue arose late in the semifinal match, leaving Lundqvist "iffy" to play in the final to begin with.

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