PITTSBURGH _ Jake Guentzel scored a power-play goal with 1:03 left in the game Saturday to push the Penguins past the Nashville Predators, 6-4, at PPG Paints Arena.
For the second straight night, the Penguins chased a Predators goalie before the end of the first period. But after blowing a three-goal lead, they needed Guentzel to stuff a puck over the goal line to survive the night with two points intact.
This time, Predators starter Juuse Saros lasted just nine minutes and four seconds before tugging a baseball cap over his eyes at the end of their bench.
The Penguins scored three goals on eight shots with the 24-year-old in net.
Bryan Rust poked in a loose puck in the paint after Saros stopped Guentzel. Then Alex Galchenyuk made a savvy centering pass from behind the Predators net to Dominik Kahun, who buried it to make it 2-0 just 1:05 into the game.
When Kris Letang ripped a shot from the point past Saros with the Penguins on the power play, Peter Laviolette had seen enough, turning to Pekka Rinne.
Rinne, who has often struggled against the Penguins over the years, stopped just three of the six shots he faced Friday before making way for Saros. The Penguins pumped two more past Saros, defeating the Predators, 5-2, in Nashville.
Before the game, Mike Sullivan said he wanted his top power-play unit to have more of a shooting mentality, an approach that has helped the second unit pick up steam recently. The coach specifically mentioned that the Penguins needed more shots from the top of the zone. Hmmm. Who lines up there again?
Kris Letang must have heard Sullivan loud and clear. On their first power play of the game, he unleashed a slap shot that made it through Saros in part because Patric Hornqvist, back after a four-week absence, had posted up in front.
The Penguins scored another power-play goal during the second period. Rookie defenseman John Marino charged down the right wing and made a slick pass to a trailing Galchenyuk. He finished it off for his second goal in as many games.
Guentzel made it 3 for 4 for the Pittsburgh power play late in the game, after Predators forward Austin Watson went to the box for plowing over Matt Murray. Malkin slid him a pass behind the net and Guentzel barely got the puck over the goal line with just over a minute left. An official review confirmed the goal.
Tristan Jarry played in Nashville, delivering yet another sharp performance. So Murray on Saturday got his third start this month. He last played a week earlier, stopping 10 of 14 shots in a loss in Vancouver. Entering Saturday, Murray had won just two of his last eight starts, allowing four or more goals five times.
The Penguins were up, 2-0, before Murray had to reach for his Gatorade bottle. He was steady throughout the first period, turning aside 10 harmless shots. But the Predators put three past Murray during the second to make it a game.
The Predators got on the board 4:07 into that period after a penalty by Sam Lafferty and a giveaway by Teddy Blueger. Murray couldn't control a blast by Calle Jarnkrok and Viktor Arvidsson, left alone in front, whacked in the rebound.
After Galchenyuk restored a three-goal lead, Craig Smith scored from a slim angle, sneaking a shot under Murray's left elbow. Three minutes later, Mikael Granlund added another during a wild scramble in front to pull the Predators within a goal, at 4-3, after two. There was plenty of blame to throw around on that one.
Murray stood tall early in the third period. He twice kicked out his right pad to deny the Predators. He then snatched a Ryan Ellis slap shot with the Penguins killing a penalty, earning him his first "Murray! Murray!" chant in a while.
But the Predators, who significantly outshot the Penguins in the final two periods, kept pushing and tied it up 8:56 into the third. An errant shot bounced off the end boards to Matt Duchene, who shoveled a shot on goal. The puck popped in the air and Letang couldn't swat it to safety. It went off Granlund's stick and in.
Guentzel put the Penguins back up on top with 1:03 left then Rust scored into an empty net to put the game away. It was Rust's 16th goal of the season.
The Penguins next play Monday when the Ottawa Senators come to town.
