NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It had been a while since the Penguins played here, but they were quickly reminded of why the locals like to call this place Smashville.
The Nashville Predators pounded them for three periods Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena. Sidney Crosby, a tough guy to topple, had to pick himself up off the ice a few times. Jake Guentzel will probably still be feeling one particular Mattias Ekholm hit Wednesday. John Marino got hit more times than a tackling dummy.
To their credit, the Penguins played through that punishment. But they had a hard time getting near Nashville’s All-Star goalie. And two mental miscues cost them in a 4-1 loss at Bridgestone Arena that snapped a two-game winning streak.
