3 ways the Predators can get back into the series

They say a series is never lost until you lose on home ice. While this has proven incorrect countless times, the adage does suggest it's far too early to rule out the Nashville Predators, since they haven't played the franchise's first Stanley Cup Final game at Bridgestone Arena.

As the Western Conference's bottom seed, Nashville hasn't had official home-ice advantage at any stage of the playoffs. Yet, the Predators have gotten this far, in part, due to tremendous play in Music City. They've lost just one game on home ice - a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final - and outscored their three opponents 25-13 in eight games.

Here's how the Predators, currently in a 2-0 hole, can get back into the series:

Assemble - and use - the top line

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Nashville was dealt the unfortunate hand of losing No. 1 center Ryan Johansen to an emergency thigh surgery between Games 4 and 5 of Round 3. Head coach Peter Laviolette has been relying on a committee approach to replace him. Defense-first center Mike Fisher returned from injury to lead the team with 20:47 of ice time in Game 1, but he's 36 years old and seven seasons removed from a career-best 53-point campaign.

Filip Forsberg topped the forward corps with 18:41 of ice time in Game 2. While he was rightfully the team leader, he still didn't play nearly enough, and James Neal's ice time fell from 19:43 in Game 1 to 15:24 on Wednesday night.

As the Predators get home ice and the advantage of final change, they need to load up a top line featuring two of Forsberg, Neal, and Viktor Arvidsson - a trio that combined for 85 regular-season goals - with either Pontus Aberg or Colton Sissons playing the pivot at even strength.

Keep shutting down Sid and Geno when it counts

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Coming into the series, there was a lot of talk about how Nashville's elite top-four defensemen would fare against two of the league's top centers, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Through two games, it's difficult to not give the advantage here to the Predators.

Crosby picked up two assists on the Penguins' first two goals in the series opener, registering three shots on goal of his own. He was held without a point in Game 2, recording just a single SOG in 19:54 of ice time.

Malkin has a goal in each game - the opener on the power play in Game 1 and the fourth marker in Game 2 - but that means he's scored on both of his SOG in the series.

Nashville has been able to contain both Penguins stars during the most important sequences and when the games have been closest. While Crosby and Malkin are the type of talents who can ride ridiculously efficient shooting percentages, goaltender Pekka Rinne needs to make some key stops on the tough shots. He was the one who entered the series as the odds-on favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy, after all.

Bring out the stars

Pop music sensation and bandwagon-jumper extraordinaire Justin Bieber has pledged his temporary allegiance to the Penguins. For the Predators to get back into the series in terms of sheer wattage, they'll need to continue attracting music superstars to Bridgestone Arena. With a pair of front-row tickets for Game 3 going for more than $10,000 on Stubhub before taxes and fees, this could take care of itself.

Alan Jackson has already committed to playing a free show at the Stanley Cup Final party in advance of Saturday's game. The Predators can't stop there. Ms. Underwood needs to call in some favors and get the likes of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Luke Bryan sitting in Bridgestone Arena's marquee seats in order to form a Care Bears-like squad and defeat the Penguins and the evil wizard No Heart ... er, Biebs.

In the meantime, the team's most famous fan hasn't lost hope.