CLOSE The Predators, who lost 4-3 to the Bruins on Thursday, face the Penguins on Saturday. Adam Vingan / USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
Buy Photo Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Predators defenseman P.K. Subban tangle during the Stanley Cup Final. (Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessean)Buy Photo
PITTSBURGH — Engraved inside each of the Pittsburgh Penguins' diamond-encrusted Stanley Cup rings is a reminder.
Listed on the 14-karat, white-and-yellow gold band are the Penguins' four vanquished playoff opponents. At the bottom is the Predators' logo, a "4-2" indicating the six games that it took Pittsburgh to defeat Nashville to win a second consecutive championship in June.
At least the Penguins' fifth Stanley Cup banner, raised at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday evening, didn't hang over the Predators' practice on Friday afternoon. The Penguins lowered it so that they could place it back with the others in sequential order.
More: Predators' Viktor Arvidsson bright spot in listless loss to Bruins
It'll be up there on Saturday, though. A win in a Stanley Cup Final rematch won't rewrite history or dull the pain. But it wouldn't hurt.
“It’s not going to give us anything back from last year,” Predators defenseman Yannick Weber said. “But after the final, it’s definitely a little bit of a rivalry now. It still stings that we lost.”
The Penguins raised their latest Stanley Cup championship banner Wednesday. (Photo: Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports)
The start of a new season doesn't allow much time for retrospection. It's no longer about how the Predators came up empty-handed, but how they can earn redemption.
Memories, both cherished and bittersweet, surely will resurface Saturday, though.
“Their season was just as long,” said Predators center Nick Bonino, referring to his current teammates after he won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins. “The emotions were just as high for them. It’s something I don’t talk about too much because it’s still a pretty emotional raw feeling.”
On the off chance that Saturday's game needed more emotion, each team has reason to be motivated.
Oct 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) scores his first NHL goal past Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) during the second period at TD Garden. (Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
The Predators were irritated with their flat performance Thursday in a season-opening loss to the Boston Bruins. The Penguins' quest for a three-peat has started with back-to-back losses, including a 10-1 thrashing from the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
“It’s not easy to be a Stanley Cup winner," said Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who allowed 11 goals in three Stanley Cup Final games in Pittsburgh. "I think everybody (has) froth coming out of (their) mouth when you have a chance to play against them. I think every single team wants to beat them, and I don’t think it’s going to be any different for us.
“We can’t expect anything because we made it to (the) finals that we’re going to be better than we are, so we’ve got to prove it all over again.”
Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.
NEXT GAME
PREDATORS at PENGUINS
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
TV/radio: Fox TN/102.5-FM
Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON Pekka Rinne discusses Predators' return to Pittsburgh for Stanley Cup Final rematch | 1:05 The Predators, who lost 4-3 to the Bruins on Thursday, face the Penguins on Saturday. Adam Vingan / USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee 1 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON 3 reasons to be optimistic about the Preds season | 1:44 Predators beat reporter Adam Vingan provides three reasons why Nashville fans should be optimistic about the Preds' chances this season. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee 2 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON 3 reasons the Predators might not return to the Stanley Cup Final | 1:35 Predators beat reporter Adam Vingan explains the three things that might keep the Nashville Predators out of a repeat playoff performance and a second shot at the Stanley Cup. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee 3 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON Predators unveil Western Conference championship banner | 1:47 Nashville Predators unveil 7th Man and Western Conference Champions Banner for season ticket holders at Bridgestone Arena. George Walker IV / The Tennessean 4 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON Predators 'not good enough' in preseason loss | 0:39 The Predators lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Adam Vingan / Tennessean 5 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON Peter Laviolette discusses Predators' final preparations for season | 0:56 The Predators open the regular season Oct. 5 against the Boston Bruins. 6 of 7 Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE VIDEOS: PREDATORS' 2017-18 SEASON Nashville Predators name new captain | 4:32 Roman Josi was named the captain for the Nashville Predators. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee 7 of 7 Last VideoNext Video Pekka Rinne discusses Predators' return to Pittsburgh for Stanley Cup Final rematch
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