Playoff Buzz: Road has been good to Predators in playoffs

Welcome to the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff Buzz, your daily look at the stories impacting the 2016-17 postseason. The Pittsburgh Penguins are going to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season after a double-overtime win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final is in Pittsburgh on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVA Sports). Here is the playoff news for Saturday:

3:30 p.m.

Making Final preparations
The Nashville Predators will open up the Stanley Cup Final on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins with Game 1 on Monday but said
that may not be a bad thing
. True, Nashville is 7-1 at home this postseason, but they're 5-3 away from home, including winning Game 1 in each of their previous three playoff series.
The Penguins would become the first repeat Stanley Cup champion since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 if they defeat the Predators. However, the Penguins are
focused on the present
, not history.
"I think it's important to just worry about the next game, have a short memory and the first to four wins," forward Conor Sheary said.

9:37 a.m.

Penguins, Predators, hard at work

While most people are enjoying the holiday weekend, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators are hard at work getting ready for the start of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Predators practiced Friday, and afterward forward James Neal spoke to NHL.com Correspondent Robby Stanley about his added motivation
playing his former team
.
Center Colton Sissons spoke to NHL.com Director of Editorial Shawn P. Roarke about
dealing with all the attention
he's getting since his hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.
NHL.com
previews the Final here
, and NHL.com Staff Writer Tom Gulitti
breaks down each team by position
.
The
Penguins are the narrow choice
by NHL.com and NHL Network experts to repeat as Cup champion, and Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne gets the edge in
Conn Smythe Trophy voting
.
For more on the Final,
check out the series page
for statistical breakdowns, goaltender analysis and 10 storylines to watch for during the series.