Winner basically wins the Stanley Cup.
Game 5 of the final is set for Thursday night in Pittsburgh. Here's what you need to know ahead of another probably very entertaining Penguins-Predators tilt:
- Matt Murray's starting in goal for the Penguins - obviously. That Marc-Andre Fleury had any chance of getting the nod was always fake news.
- Pens center Nick Bonino remains a game-time decision, though he didn't skate Thursday morning and didn't practice Wednesday. (Let's be real: he's not playing.)
- For Nashville, P.A. Parenteau won't be in the lineup, he revealed, but he's taking the decision like a true pro. The veteran said he enjoyed his time in the lineup, but he's ready to root on his teammates now. The good news: If Nashville wins the series, he'll get his name on the Cup.
- While there's been no confirmation, because keeping secrets is imperative this time of year, all signs point to Colin Wilson returning from injury in Parenteau's spot, writes The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.
- Wilson skated on a line with Frederick Gaudreau and Harry Zolnierczyk in practice over the last two days. Parenteau played with those two in Games 3 and 4.
A few stats, courtesy of Sportsnet Stats:
- Teams that win Game 5 in a best-of-seven Cup Final tied 2-2 have raised Stanley 17 out of 24 times.
- Nashville is the 13th team to erase a 2-0 Cup Final series deficit. Only four of 12 took Stanley home.
- Teams that lost Game 5 in a 2-2 Cup Final have won the Cup four out of the last eight times. (Or lost four out of the last eight times, depending on your perspective in life.)
For Nashville to win the Cup, it must win one game in Pittsburgh. You'd think No. 5 would be a little less pressure-packed than No. 7.
Faceoff's shortly after 8 p.m. ET. Enjoy.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.