Crosby, Malkin held shotless for 1st time in same playoff game

No wonder Nashville won.

The Predators defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, cutting their series deficit to one after dropping the first two games in Pittsburgh.

Apparently, the key to success was holding the Penguins' two superstars, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, off the scoresheet. Both failed to register a shot in Game 3 - the first time they've done so in the same playoff game since becoming teammates in 2006.

Crosby finished the night with an assist, while Malkin was held pointless, and had a minus-one rating. The two centers shared a seat in the penalty box and watched Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm's power-play goal - Nashville's fifth of the night.

It was a night of positives all around for the Predators. Pushing the team to victory were key goals from winger James Neal, who snapped a six-game goalless drought, and forward Craig Smith, who picked up his first marker of the postseason.