from Brooks Bratten of NashvillePredators.com,

The plan was not to return home down 0-2 in the Stanley Cup Final.

For about five-and-a-half out of the six periods through the first two games, Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette saw plenty to like from his team. But it was the lulls that gave the Pittsburgh Penguins all the opportunity they needed to take the first two contests from the Preds and put Nashville in a less than ideal spot on June 1.

But sometimes things don't go according to plan. A little adversity might do some good. And as the Predators entered Bridgestone Arena on Thursday for meetings and off-ice activities, there wasn't a single head hung low.

In fact, it was quite the opposite for a Nashville team that still has plenty of confidence. For one, they've seen plenty of signs in their game over the past two contests that things will soon turn. And secondly, and perhaps most importantly, they're now back in a building where they have gone 7-1 in these playoffs, including a victory to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final during their last time out.

Suffice to say, Saturday night and Game Three can't come fast enough.

"We're excited about being home," Preds Captain Mike Fisher said. "It felt good to come to the rink today and think about what this building is going to be like on Saturday night."

continued