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Nashville Predators: Pekka Rinne Can Redeem Himself With Game 7 Win

By Derian Carmichael

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) is shown prior to Game Two of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, held on April 29, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) is shown prior to Game Two of Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, held on April 29, 2018, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne can rewrite his narrative with a strong performance in Game 7

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has a chance to redeem himself in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs with a strong showing in Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets. Something has happened to one of the best goaltenders in the world once the playoffs began. Rinne has been unable to match his regular season level of play during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After winning 42 games in the regular season while posting a .927% save percentage along with a 2.31 goals-against average, he has seen those numbers drop. In the playoffs, Rinne owns a postseason save percentage of .907 and a goals-against average of 2.94. He’s also been pulled three times in 12 playoff games, something that only happened twice in 59 regular season games.

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The Vezina Trophy candidate clearly hasn’t been at his best and many would say he’s been outplayed by fellow Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck. His regular season and playoff stats are similar, as the Jets goaltender has been a major reason for his team’s success. Meanwhile, the Predators have managed to make it this far in the playoffs almost in spite of Rinne’s play.

However, something might have clicked for him after his Game 6 performance in Winnipeg. Rinne earned a shutout while denying 34 shots. It was his strongest game of the postseason when the Predators needed it the most, as they were facing elimination on their opponent’s home ice. Winnipeg’s building has proven all season to be one of the hardest places to play for opposing teams, which is why Nashville is hoping Rinne can build off his Game 6 victory.

One cause for concern for Nashville is they might have seen this script already within this series with Rinne coming off a strong game only to struggle in the next one. Rinne was excellent in a 2-1 victory in Game 4 that was also in Winnipeg, only to return home to Nashville and give up six goals in the Game 5 loss.

The Jets have no shortage of offensive firepower and haven’t lost back-to-back games after being shutout once this season. Along with the Game 6 win after the Game 5 shutout, in the regular season Winnipeg were shutout twice and responded with 7-2 and 4-0 victories in the very next games.

Although Game 7 isn’t entirely on Rinne’s shoulders, a loss would raise questions given his poor postseason play. Nashville’s season has been Stanley Cup or bust after their tremendous run from a year ago and a loss in the second round would be extremely disappointing. There is no doubt fingers would be pointed at Rinne given his inability to match his strong regular season play.

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However, if Rinne were to stand on his head like he did in Game 6 then it’d go a long way to redeeming his play after a shaky two rounds of the postseason. The Predators needed him in Game 6 but they’ll need him even more in Game 7.

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