Guentzel has winner as Penguins beat Predators 5-3 in Game 1 of Stanley Cup

SPORTS

Guentzel has winner as Penguins beat Predators 5-3 in Game 1 of Stanley Cup

The Canadian Press Published Monday, May 29, 2017 11:27PM EDT

Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel, center, celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with Ian Cole, left, and Matt Cullen during the third period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, May 29, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP / Gene J. Puskar)

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PITTSBURGH -- Jake Guentzel scored with 3:17 left to play in the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins held off a late Nashville Predators rally for a 5-3 win in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary and Nick Bonino all scored in the first period as the Penguins built an early 3-0 lead.

But Nashville's defence buckled down in the second, preventing Pittsburgh from registering a shot on net in the period.

Ryan Ellis had a power-play goal in the second period for Nashville, followed by Colton Sissons and Frederick Gaudreau in the third to tie it 3-3.

Guentzel then scored to bring PPG Paints Arena back to life and Bonino put away his second of the night into an empty net for the night's final score.