Predators, Penguins tangle in intriguing Stanley Cup Final

The Predators' quest for the Stanley Cup has reached its final stage. To win the championship, they will have to unseat the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in a seven-game series.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is Monday in Pittsburgh (7 p.m., NBC/102.5-FM).

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of this intriguing matchup:

FORWARDS

Predators: Eighteen Predators forwards have played this postseason, tied for the most in NHL history, and 13 have a goal. Depth contributions have been plentiful, but Nashville will be at a disadvantage at center. Ryan Johansen is out for the rest of the playoffs after season-ending surgery, and Mike Fisher's status for Game 1 is questionable because of an undisclosed injury. Filip Forsberg, who has a franchise-record eight goals and 15 points, will have to take the lead offensively. 

Penguins: The Penguins have the best center duo in the NHL in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the latter of whom has a league-leading 24 playoff points. Pittsburgh, however, is top heavy. Wingers Phil Kessel (19 points) and Jake Guentzel (nine goals) are dangerous, but no other Penguins forward has more than seven points. 

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DEFENSE

Predators: This is where the Predators have the unquestioned edge. Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban have combined for 39 points. All four can log heavy minutes and possess game-changing skill. Ekholm and Subban have formed an excellent shutdown pair. They have allowed six even-strength goals when on the ice together in 16 games, according to naturalstattrick.com. 

Penguins: The Penguins' starting defense this postseason has rotated through several versions because of various injuries. Pittsburgh has missed big-minute defenseman Kris Letang, whose season ended in April because of neck surgery. The team's top pair consists of sophomore Brian Dumoulin and veteran Ron Hainsey, who played an NHL-record 907 games before making his playoff debut this season. Justin Schultz is a talented puck mover. 

GOALTENDING

Predators: Pekka Rinne leads NHL goaltenders this postseason in goals-against average (1.70) and save percentage (.941) in 16 starts. The veteran has used the Predators' run to the Stanley Cup Final to remind the league of his dominance. If Nashville wins the Stanley Cup, Rinne should be a shoo-in for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. 

Penguins: A pregame injury suffered during the Penguins' opening game of the playoffs stripped Matt Murray of his starting role through the first two-plus rounds. He returned against the Senators in relief of veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, reclaiming his position with a 1.35 GAA and .946 save percentage in five appearances. Murray, who turned 23 on Thursday and has an 18-7 career postseason record, is a clutch goaltender.

TEAM X-FACTOR

Predators: Resilience has carried the Predators to the NHL's biggest stage. Nashville hasn't lost consecutive games or trailed in a playoff series this postseason. Against the defending champions, can the Predators tap into that fortitude again and achieve their goal?

Penguins: The Penguins are making their fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance in the past 10 seasons. The Predators, meanwhile, have one player on their roster (Fisher) who has played in the final, and that was 10 years ago. Experience clearly is on Pittsburgh's side. 

INDIVIDUAL X-FACTOR

Predators: The respective losses of Johansen and Fisher thrust Colton Sissons into No. 1 center duty. He aced that assignment in his first two games, recording a hat trick in the Predators' conference final-clinching victory against the Anaheim Ducks. Sissons could share a lot of his ice time with Crosby. How he handles that extremely difficult matchup will have an influence on the series. 

Penguins: Chris Kunitz went 34 consecutive games without a goal before scoring twice against the Senators in Game 7 on Thursday. The 37-year-old forward became the oldest player in NHL history to score an overtime in the seventh game of a playoff series. Kunitz has slowed, but he can provide offense in a pinch. 

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

PREDATORS vs. PENGUINS

All games start at 7 p.m. CT and broadcast on 102.5-FM

Monday: at Pittsburgh (NBC)

Wednesday: at Pittsburgh (NBC SN)

June 3: at Nashville (NBC SN)

June 5: at Nashville (NBC)

x — June 8: at Pittsburgh (NBC)

x — June 11: at Nashville (NBC)

x — June 14: at Pittsburgh (NBC)

x — if necessary