Cup Final showdown is set; here are the Michigan names competing for Lord Stanley

By @MichaelCaples –

Thanks to Ferris State alum Chris Kunitz’s goal in double-overtime last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins are returning to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight season. Standing in their way of accomplishing back-to-back Stanley Cup championships – they would be the first team to accomplish the feat since the Red Wings did so in the 1990s – are the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators. It’s the first time in Music City history that ‘Smashville’ will be hosting Stanley Cup Final contests.

Here are the Michigan names still standing in the NHL postseason:

Pittsburgh

Bryan Rust – Pontiac native, NTDP alum

Ian Cole – Ann Arbor native, NTDP alum

Kevin Porter – Northville native, NTDP and Michigan alum

Carl Hagelin – Michigan alum

Chris Kunitz – Ferris State alum

Ron Hainsey – NTDP alum

Phil Kessel – NTDP alum

Tom Sestito – Plymouth Whalers alum

David Warsofsky – NTDP alum

 

Nashville

Austin Watson – Ann Arbor native

James Neal – Plymouth Whalers alum

 

Here is the Stanley Cup Final schedule, too:

Monday, May 29, 8pm: Predators @ Penguins | NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Wednesday, May 31, 8pm: Predators @ Penguins | NBCSN, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Saturday, June 3, 8pm: Penguins @ Predators | NBCSN, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Monday, June 5, 8pm: Penguins @ Predators | NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Thursday, June 8, 8pm: Predators @ Penguins | NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Sunday, June 11, 8pm: Penguins @ Predators | NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Wednesday, June 14, 8pm: Predators @ Penguins | NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

* – if necessary