from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

Four days ago, Pekka Rinne looked at a group of reporters and asked them why they were all acting “like somebody died.”

Today the Nashville Predators are very much alive in their quest for a Stanley Cup in large part due to the popular Finnish goaltender.

“It’s a rollercoaster,” Rinne said after Monday’s 4-1 victory. “It’s an emotional ride.”

After some twists and turns we are back where we started: With the Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins all square in the championship series, a best-of-three to decide who gets their name carved into the Cup.

It may well be Rinne if he can keep this up. He was riding a low after the opening two games in Pittsburgh – the victim of some bad bounces and poor play while allowing eight goals on 36 shots – and rebounded by stopping 50 of 52 here to even the series.

The Penguins brought their best game of the final in Game 4 and only put one puck behind him. It came on a clear breakaway from the best player in the world and Sidney Crosby made no mistake with a backhand deke reminiscent of the one he used to score in the gold-medal game at the Sochi Olympics.

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Watch the game highlights below...