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Pekka Rinne News & Rumors

Rinne gives Preds his own power play
May 3
Tennessean
 
"Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made spectacular saves late in the 2-0 win over the Coyotes in Game 3 of their playoff series on Wednesday. The Finland native played well all game for Nashville, but late in the third period he took his play up an extra notch, getting a full-body workout as he squashed a 5-on-3 Coyotes onslaught with about five minutes to play. Rinne tried to shrug off his strong play but admitted he got a confidence boost from the shutout, which cut Phoenix's series lead to 2-1. It was his play late, though, which turned heads and roused the home crowd. He finished with 32 saves in all."
Rinne makes no excuses in Nashville Predators' loss
April 28
Tennessean
 
"A well-rested Pekka Rinne figured to be a dominating presence for the Predators, who were trying to win Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Coyotes on Friday. Rinne was on the ropes in regulation, weathered that storm, but then lost the battle of the goalies to the Coyotes' Mike Smith in the 4-3 overtime defeat. But Rinne, a Vezina Trophy finalist, did not look at the matchup as a personal contest against Smith. "No, he does whatever he can do to help their team, and that's what I do, too," he said. "(I) just focus on the Phoenix Coyotes as a team." Rinne had to face only 24 shots, 18 fewer than Smith. In the third period, he was pretty much an onlooker as the Predators"
Pekka Rinne leads NHL playoff run
April 27
Tennessean
 columnist David Climer
"In a game of constant motion, Barry Trotz prefers to see one player comparatively still. When Pekka Rinne is on, there is no wasted motion. He seems undisturbed, virtually stationary, until the moment of truth. "There's really no movement," Trotz said. "He's just tracking." In times like these, Rinne seems almost cyborg-like. While his body seems at rest, his eyes pick up everything on the ice while his brain removes all clutter, leaving him to focus on the puck and opposing players that pose a threat. Rinne calls it "being comfortable." And entering the Western Conference semifinal series against Phoenix, Rinne has found an uncommon comfort level that gives the Predators a legitimate shot"
Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne are finalists
April 27
ESPN.com
 
"New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been named one of three finalists for this year's Vezina Trophy, awarded to the best goaltender as voted by the NHL's 30 general managers. Lundqvist is joined by Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick and Nashville's Pekka Rinne as candidates for the trophy, which will be announced at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas in June. Leading the Rangers to an Eastern Conference title, Lundqvist recorded career-highs with 39 wins, a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. The 30-year-old Swede also finished the regular season with eight shutouts. "I'm really proud and honored to be with those names," Lundqvist said. "It's been a year where there"
The 'im-Pekka-ble' story behind Nashville's Rinne
April 25
NHL.com
 
"Minutes after disposing of the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5, a joyous Nashville Predators team filed into their locker room beneath the stands at Bridgestone Arena dancing to the cheesy sounds of Lionel Richie's "All Night Long." Head coach Barry Trotz made his way around the raucous room and shook every player's hand. After the trainer turned down the music, Trotz immediately pointed to his sweat-soaked goalie Pekka Rinne, who sat slouched in his corner stall. "This guy right here," the coach barked. "He made it possible." Rinne reluctantly grinned and shook his head side to side, as if deflecting the praise like one of the 151 saves he made in his dominating first-round performance. He"
Lundqvist, Rinne, Quick tabbed Vezina finalists
April 25
NHL.com
 
"Teams don't have success without high-quality goaltending, so it's no surprise the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators have done so well this season. The Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, the Kings' Jonathan Quick and the Predators' Pekka Rinne have been named finalists for this year's Vezina Trophy, awarded "to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position" as voted by the general managers of each of the 30 clubs. The winner will be announced at the 2012 NHL Awards Show, June 20 at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas."
Pekka Rinne lets his numbers do the talking
April 21
Tennessean
 
"The question was simple: Did you steal the series? The Predators' Pekka Rinne shrugged in an aw-shucks kind of way. "I don't know," the goaltender said. "You'll have to ask somebody else." So we did, and the consensus was yes — to a degree. "Peks stole us a couple of games," defenseman Ryan Suter said. Asked whether eliminating the Red Wings in five games shows how good the Predators are, defenseman Shea Weber said: "It says how good our goalie is, because we still haven't played our best." With a team as talented as the Predators, it's tough to say that Rinne stole the series from a Red Wings team that was slightly outmatched up front and on defense. But it's also tough to argue with the"
Red Wings have experience, but can they solve Pekka Rinne?
April 20
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Helene St. James
"Almost a decade later, Jean-Sebastien Giguere's impermeable play still stands out in the mind of Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom is tasked tonight with leading his Wings as they seek to beat Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne, whose outstanding play has pushed the Wings to the brink of elimination entering Game 5. Rinne's relentless defense of his net is reminiscent of the 2003 playoffs, when Giguere carried the Anaheim Ducks as they swept and upset the Wings in the first round. Having faced 138 shots over four games, Rinne has a .942 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average."
Goal for Red Wings is to keep peppering Pekka Rinne
April 19
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Helene St. James
"What now for the Red Wings? They find themselves one loss from elimination after playing two good games in a row, but both times getting outperformed by one Predator. The NHL playoffs are as unpredictable as any sporting event comes; witness the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, teams many hockey analysts picked to meet in the Stanley Cup finals. The Wings' chances of making it that far appear almost insurmountable after dropping Tuesday's Game 4, 3-1, a score that mirrors the Wings' position in this first-round series. Game 5 is in Nashville on Friday."
With Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, the puck stops here
April 18
Tennessean
 
"It was fitting that the one goal Pekka Rinne allowed on Tuesday had to be reviewed. Jiri Hudler's deflection beat Rinne solidly and obviously, but the officials had to take one more look just to make sure the Predators goaltender, who has morphed into a stone wall the past two games, had allowed a score in Nashville's 3-1 victory in Game 4. "He's into the game and he's able to make the saves, and he seems to be on top of the game when he gets a lot of shots," defenseman Shea Weber said. Weber may be onto something. During the regular season, Rinne notched a 14-0-2 record when stopping at least 35 shots. In Games 3 and 4 of this playoff series against the Red Wings, Rinne has faced 43 and"
Pekka Rinne puts body on line to beat Red Wings in Game 4
April 18
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings wanted to get off to a fast start Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena and get the puck past Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round series. Rinne, however, had other plans for the Red Wings. With 40 saves, Rinne led the Predators to a 3-1 victory to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Red Wings, however, had their chances. First, Rinne made a save on Danny Cleary's point blank shot from just in front of the crease off of Pavel Datsyuk's pass from behind the net."
Red Wings had shots, but Pekka Rinne is a wrecka
April 16
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Mitch Albom
"The best part of Game 3 was a Red Wings goal. Pavel Datsyuk came charging behind the Nashville net, chopped his stick like a Benihana chef -- swick-swick -- stole the puck from Roman Josi, then spun and tucked it in for a score. I think he made stir-fry as well. The worst part of Game 3 was also a Red Wings goal. Late in the second period, Johan Franzen, after a mad Detroit skirmish near the Nashville net, took a loose puck and fired it in. The red light lit. But so did the blue light. And when the smoke cleared, blue beat red by about a tenth of a second. A goal that would have tied the game was ruled never a goal at all. It turned out to be the Wings' best shot at tying this game."
Wings want to unravel Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne
April 13
Detroit News
 
"Pekka Rinne is good enough that he doesn't need any help. But the Red Wings felt they helped the Predators goaltender out in Game 1 by not establishing more of a net presence. "We were too easy to play against," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. "We have to get to the net more (in Game 2 tonight). We've talked about that. … It's no real surprise. We didn't do our part." Nashville, however, did a good job of boxing Detroit out, keeping it outside and forcing shots from the perimeter."
Red Wings win special teams, but Pekka Rinne wins Game 1
April 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"Finally, the Red Wings didn't need Blue Cross. They had their full complement of assorted weapons all reasonably healthy for the first time in six weeks. But that lasted only until an alarmed Darren Helm raced off the ice just minutes into Wednesday night's Game 1, the victim of a razor-sharp skate cutting his right forearm. He didn't return. The team that has built an almost legendary reputation for creating its own playoff good fortune is now beginning to wonder when it's going to catch a break."
Nashville Predators wait to decide if Pekka Rinne will start
April 5
Tennessean
 
"Goalie Pekka Rinne got his rest — sort of — on Tuesday. Whether Predators Coach Barry Trotz deems that enough remains to be seen. Earlier this week Trotz said having Rinne rested and ready for the playoffs was his top priority, ranking it even higher than seeding. Rinne, who's played in 71 of the 80 games, did sit out Tuesday's game against the Wild. But it wasn't the most restful day and night for Rinne, who had a virus that eventually required him to take some intravenous fluids for rehydration. He was back at practice Wednesday and said he felt ready to play against Dallas today. "It was just a quick virus and hopefully I'm over it now," Rinne said. "Obviously you never want to be sick"
Rinne sets franchise record for wins in a season
March 9
Nashville City Paper
 
"The stat sheet says that Pekka Rinne made it look easy. The stat sheet is wrong. Rinne set a Nashville Predators record for wins in a single season when he faced just 17 shots — and stopped 15 — in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. Only once in the previous 66 games had the Predators allowed fewer shots on goal. Colorado managed just three in the first period and no more than nine in either of the final two. The final shot count was 31-17 in Nashville's favor. "It's easier to play when you face more shots and kind of stay in the game all the time." Rinne said. "[The shot total] is a sign of the fact that we play well. We didn't give them much.""
Pekka Rinne calls 43 shots 'a party' at the net
February 5
Tennessean
 
"The St. Louis Blues managed to get two more shots on goal than Nashville (16-14) in the first period Saturday, but the Predators led 2-0. At one point the Blues had 11 shots to the Predators' 3. St. Louis finished the game 43 shots and Nashville had 37. "There was a lot of scoring chances during this game and not too many goals," said Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, who stopped 42 shots. "(Blues goalie Jaroslav) Halak played really well. We just have to be happy to win a game like this." Rinne said he enjoys having a lot of shots come his way. "It was a party," Rinne said. "It's always fun. It keeps you in the game. Who knows, though? The next game I might get 15 to 20 shots, and you have to"
Predators 3, Blue Jackets 0: Erat, Rinne are too much
January 20
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nashville Predators winger Martin Erat usually looks like an All-Star against the Blue Jackets. Goaltender Pekka Rinne is one of the NHL's best, but he looks even bigger, more rubbery, against the Jackets. So it was last night at Nationwide Arena. Erat had a goal and an assist against his favorite opponent, Rinne made 38 saves and the Blue Jackets lost 3-0 before 17,233. This might be a surprise: The Blue Jackets, ranked 26th in the NHL in goals, became the last club in the league to be shut out this season. "There are no holes (with Rinne)," Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard said. "And he's really big. It's so hard to get scoring chances against them, and when you do, you'd better not"
Pekka Rinne to start in goal again tonight for Nashville Predators
December 23
Tennessean
 
"For a position player, playing back-to-back nights is somewhat easier than it is for goalies. Goalies have to stand for almost the entire game, and they don't get a rest, either mentally or physically. Because of that, coaches often start their backups on the first or second night of back-to-back games. The Predators, however, said they planned to abandon that philosophy Thursday against Columbus and today at Dallas. Pekka Rinne, who started Thursday night's 6-5 victory, is expected to start tonight, too. "I always try to think about the first game and go from there," Rinne said. "I don't want to jinx anything, but if you win the game, you get kind of an energy boost, and it's a little bit"
Pekka Rinne finally breaks slump
December 9
Tennessean
 
"It's tough to see Pekka Rinne's competitiveness during games. After all, his face is covered by a goalie mask. But the Predators' goaltender wants to win as much as anyone. That's why his seven-game winless skid as a starter had started to grate on him recently. With Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rinne pulled out a win for the first time since Nov. 17 against Toronto. "It has been tough going," Rinne said. "Hopefully this is the one we all and myself can turn the page and just put that bad streak behind you. It felt really good, especially coming from behind like that. Just a big win. I'm sure this helps us a lot." The Predators allowed only 24 shots,"
Pekka Rinne's contract changes Nashville Predators' mood
November 7
Tennessean
 
"It's quite fascinating what a difference a new contract for one player makes for a team. Earlier this season, even in victory, there didn't seem to be much joy around the Predators. Players talked about where the team needed to improve. A lot of the wins felt like losses. And when the real losses started piling up, the words turned bitter, especially after games against Edmonton and Vancouver. But Nashville's victories against Phoenix and San Jose on this trip actually felt like true wins. You could see players mouthing the words to Lionel Richie's "All Night Long," the team's unofficial victory anthem, in the locker room. You can't say that this all has to do with the signing of"
Pekka Rinne carries weight of contract
November 5
Tennessean
 
"In many ways a goaltender in hockey is similar to a pitcher in baseball. It's a solitary position. A pitcher stands alone on a mound the whole game. A goaltender stands in his crease. Both players can break down, and the quality of their performances can vary greatly from one season to the next, sometimes from one game to the next. The Predators took a gamble on Thursday, signing goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year contract worth $49 million. While there is ample evidence that it's money well spent, historical context with goalies given long-term deals shows there is still some hazard. "Miikka Kiprusoff is a Vezina Trophy winner, and you would never know that if you look at him now,""
Rinne pays immediate dividends on new deal, shuts out Coyotes
November 4
Nashville City Paper
 
"Pekka Rinne certainly did not need to prove a point. It is unlikely many doubted the Nashville Predators goalie was worth what the franchise agreed to pay him for the next seven seasons when the sides agreed to a new contract Thursday. The 29-year-old who also celebrated his birthday the same day as his $49 million contract immediately rewarded the franchise's largess when he posted his third shutout in six games as the Predators defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2-0 at Jobing.com Arena. Rinne stopped all 35 shots he faced three days after he allowed a season-high five goals in a loss to Chicago. It was his highest save total in a shutout since he made 35 back on Feb. 5 last season against"
Predators pay big-time for Pekka Rinne
November 4
Tennessean
 
"As Pekka Rinne took off his pads and skates in the Predators' locker room here on Thursday morning, there was something different about the goaltender. Maybe it had to do with his 29th birthday, but probably was more about the seven-year, $49 million contract extension for Rinne the Predators had just announced. "This was my No. 1 option," Rinne said. "You realize your options when you come to this point and you're an unrestricted free agent. This was my No. 1 choice, and I'm just relieved and I'm so happy we got it done." The extension, which kicks in next season, will make Rinne the highest paid player in franchise history throughout the length of a deal. It also will make him the"
Nashville Predators sign goaltender Pekka Rinne to new contract
November 3
Tennessean
 
"It's one down and two to go for the Nashville Predators. The Predators signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year, $49 million contract on Thursday. It's the largest contract in franchise history. Rinne was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. His deal could have major implications for the Predators as they try to re-sign their other two prime free agents, defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. Suter will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, Weber restricted."
Rinne ties Predators' shutout record in victory at Calgary
October 23
Nashville City Paper
 
"Pekka Rinne tied the franchise record for career shutouts as the Nashville Predators snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Predators (3-3-1) were outshot for the seventh time in as many games this season but Rinne stopped all 33 he faced for his 21st career shutout, which he got in his 184th career appearance. Tomas Vokoun had 21 shutouts in 383 contests from 1998-2007. Nashville managed just 14 shots of its own but got goals from Niclas Bergfors in the second period and Sergei Kostitsyn in the third. Calgary (2-4-1) had an 8-3 edge in shots in the first period and 14-2 in the third. Bergfors was credited with the first goal when the"
Predators bench Pekka Rinne after poor start
October 21
Tennessean
 
"The Predators' coaching staff didn't believe Pekka Rinne had played that poorly. But with the score 4-1 in favor of Vancouver after the first period Thursday, Nashville gave Anders Lindback his first action of the season. In 40 minutes of work, Lindback made 23 saves on 24 shots. "You really don't have the time to think too much," Lindback said. "I just try to stay prepared all the time, and when I go in, try to just be ready and find the puck and position well. It's not the situation you want to come into, but it's my job. "I felt pretty good coming in there. I got a couple of shots right away, so I got into it." Two of the goals on Rinne were flukes. Daniel Sedin's goal bounced off"
Rinne has the flu, likely to play today
October 7
Tennessean
 
"Predators goalie Pekka Rinne missed practice Thursday while battling the flu. Coach Barry Trotz said he does not expect the illness to prevent Rinne from playing when Nashville opens the season today at Columbus. "He should be fine … it's only the flu," Trotz said. "He got a little sick (Wednesday) night and said he didn't have great energy and I said, 'No sense in burning you out.' I was fine with him not practicing." The Predators also play Saturday at St. Louis, but Trotz said he had yet to decide if Rinne would be in goal for both games or if Anders Lindback would start against the Blues. "To be honest, we didn't have a plan," Trotz said. "We were just going to react to what we thought"
Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne gets stitches after being cut by puck
September 25
Tennessean
 
"It didn't hurt Pekka Rinne that much. He was more shocked than anything. With 5:36 remaining in the second period of Saturday night's 4-3 preseason victory over Winnipeg, a shot was fired at Rinne's helmet. The puck hit his goalie mask in such a way that it cut Rinne over his right eye. He skated off the ice immediately and was stitched up. He returned to the Predators' bench at the beginning of the third period. "The cage was pretty bent, but I don't know what really happened. It's just one of those things that was kind of freaky," Rinne said. "I felt right away blood coming out and dripping on my face. But it was numb right after that. It didn't really hurt.""
Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne enters contract year as star player
September 19
Tennessean
 
"This is familiar territory for Pekka Rinne. The Predators goaltender entered the 2009-10 season with the possibility of becoming an unrestricted free agent that summer. He opted for security and signed a two-year deal worth $6.8 million during the Olympic break in February 2010. At the time, he was a somewhat unknown quantity. Last season, Rinne was arguably Nashville's most valuable player. He finished runner-up in Vezina Trophy voting and fourth in Hart Trophy voting. Simply put, he entered the NHL's elite, and now he's heading into another contract year. "I think back then (in 2009-10) that was a good learning experience, just to focus on my game. There's nothing else you can do," Rinne"
Assault steeled Nashville Predator's Pekka Rinne for NHL success
June 20
Tennessean
 
"The words sound so strange when they come out of Pekka Rinne's mouth. "Pepper spray," the Nashville Predators goaltender says with a slight cringe and shakes his head. And at that moment, the fear from the summer of 2006 comes back to Rinne. He was the victim of an assault by a pizzeria owner in Oulu, Finland. He was shot in the eyes with pepper spray. During the fracas, he hit the ground and dislocated his shoulder. The injury caused him to miss most of the following American Hockey League season in Milwaukee. Considered one of the gentler and humbler star athletes in the NHL, Rinne felt vulnerable. "I was still young, and right away you're thinking 'This is it,' " he said. "It's a scary"
Rinne becomes transcendent figure during Predators' rise
May 12
Nashville City Paper
 
"Mike Fisher still rates as the favorite NHL player among his family and friends in his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario. His lead over second place has shrunk decidedly in recent weeks, though. Goalie Pekka Rinne, the player teammates and coaches point to as the single biggest reason for the Nashville Predators' presence in, and success during, the playoffs, became the transcendent figure of the team's most successful postseason to date. "Anyone I talk to back home, they all talk about Pekka," Fisher said. "People love the way he competes and some of the saves he makes. He's an exciting guy to watch, which is why so many of the fans in Nashville love him." Predators fans have been well"
How to unlock Rinne's door?
May 3
Vancouver Province
 
"To Barry Trotz it was a work of art, a clip he never tired of watching on the plane ride home from Vancouver. Pekka Rinne's robbery of Kevin Bieksa in overtime on Saturday night, Trotz figured, deserves the NFL Films treatment. You want to watch it in slow motion and put some music to it, the Nashville head coach said. It was that nice. "That save turned the whole game around. I knew we were going to win right then. "I said, 'If that's not going in, nothing's going in.'" That's one view of The Save. Bieksa has another. "Looking back after watching the replay a few times, I definitely helped the situation," the defenceman said on Monday afternoon after the Canucks practised at Bridgestone"
Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne stymies Vancouver Canucks
May 1
Tennessean
 
"Pekka Rinne sat at his locker stall and calmly answered questions about his 32-save performance - the impossible ones, the easy ones - all of them. Next to the Nashville Predators goaltender sat about 15 water bottles, Gatorade bottles and empty cups. Through three periods Saturday, Rinne was hardly tested by 15 Vancouver shots on goal. In two overtimes, however, the Canucks peppered Rinne with 18 shots. He stopped all of them, and the Predators won 2-1. "It's one of those things. You have no choice," Rinne said. "It's sudden death, and you try to be ready for every single situation, every single shot and go from there. It was easy to stay focused tonight, especially in overtime. It seemed"
Pekka Rinne turns in top effort
April 29
Tennessean
 
"Pekka Rinne looked every bit like the player who was nominated for the Vezina Trophy on Thursday night in a 1-0 loss to Vancouver in Game 1 of a second-round series. The Nashville goaltender made 29 saves. "If it wasn't for Pekka, it could have been 5-0," Predators forward Jerred Smithson said. "That's the norm for him though. We see it all the time." Rinne stopped the Canucks on two sterling scoring chances. He got a save off defenseman Keith Ballard's own rebound in the first period — Rinne looked like he couldn't find the puck after Ballard's shot — and stuffed Henrik Sedin on a breakaway late in the third period. In Nashville's first-round series against Anaheim, Rinne had a 3.29 goals"
Rinne shines, teammates stumble as Predators drop Game 1
April 29
Nashville City Paper
 
"Pekka Rinne and Roberton Luongo figured to play prominent roles in the Western Conference semifinal series between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. No one was more involved than Rinne, the Predators goalie who was named first star of the contest even though his team lost 1-0 in the series opener Thursday before a sellout crowd at Rogers Arena. "He played outstanding all game," center Mike Fisher said. "He was so solid all game and gave us a chance late. He's a big reason why we're 1-0 and why we had a shot." Rinne and Luongo represent two of the three finalists for this year's Vezina Trophy, which is presented annually to the league's top goaltender. They faced off four times"
Nashville's Rinne a finalist for NHL's top goaltender award
April 23
Nashville City Paper
 
"Two days after one of his worst postseason performances, Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne officially was recognized as one of the best in the National Hockey League. Rinne on Friday was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the NHL's top goaltender. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Boston's Tim Thomas were the other two finalists in voting by the league's 30 general managers. "He's been a beast all year," right wing Joel Ward said. "So we're excited for him. We're just glad to see a guy like him can get recognized for something like that. He's been our MVP all year, and we're all happy for him." Rinne set career-highs in wins (33), goals-against average"
Nashville's Rinne a finalist for NHL's top goaltender award
April 22
Nashville City Paper
 
"Pekka Rinne was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the NHL's top goaltender, the league office announced Friday. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Boston's Tim Thomas were the other two finalists in voting by the league's 30 general managers. Rinne set career-highs win wins (33), goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.930) in 64 appearances."
Luongo, Rinne, Thomas nominated for Vezina
April 22
NHL.com
 
"When it came to stopping the puck this season, Roberto Luongo, Pekka Rinne and Tim Thomas were in a class of their own. Friday's announcement of their nominations for this year's Vezina Trophy -- awarded annually "to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position" -- comes, then, as little surprise. Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, Rinne from the Nashville Predators and Thomas of the Boston Bruins were the top-three finishers in goals-against average, in the top four in save percentage, and each led his team to a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."
Preds' system helps Rinne
April 13
Tennessean
 
"There is no distinct definition for the term "stealing a series" in NHL lingo. Only vague descriptions classify the phrase. "It means that the goalie is so way better than the other goalie," Predators goaltending coach Mitch Korn said. This could be a fundamental storyline for Nashville's first round playoff series against Anaheim, which starts today. Judging by statistics this season, Pekka Rinne is so way better than the Ducks' goaltenders. But does having a thoroughbred goaltender such as Rinne always denote playoff success? Or does having a high-powered offense and decent goaltender mean a deeper postseason run? The Predators obviously prefer the former. "We don't rack up six or seven"
Rinne's not going anywhere now that playoffs are here
April 13
Nashville City Paper
 
"How unusual to think that it was back on Oct. 9, the night the Nashville Predators opened the 2010-11 season against the Anaheim Ducks, that goalie Pekka Rinne pulled himself from the contest with a knee injury. Six months later, it's clear that Rinne is not going anywhere. His consistent presence and performance between the pipes is considered by most a necessity if the Predators hope to get beyond the Western Conference quarterfinals for the first time. There's no doubt he will be the starter when Nashville and Anaheim begin their best-of-seven series 9:30 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday at the Honda Center (SportSouth-Comcast Chs. 26, 286). That's in stark contrast to the Ducks, who have three"
Rinne carries Preds to edge of playoffs
April 7
Tennessean
 
"Some people complain when they have a huge workload. Pekka Rinne is not one of those people. The Predators goaltender has been a workhorse this season and he couldn't be any happier. He has started 25 of the past 26 games and is the main reason why Nashville is close to locking up another playoff berth. "I feel good. I'm loving it," Rinne said Wednesday. "It's been great. Obviously there are a few more games to go and we'll see what happens after that. But I feel really good." Rinne is second in the NHL in save percentage (.929) and tied for second in goals-against-average (2.14). He is a sure bet to be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the league's top goaltender. Rinne has"
Predators rest Rinne, rally in closing minutes to defeat Buffalo
March 21
Nashville City Paper
 
"Barry Trotz does not even need to be asked. The Nashville Predators coach seizes any opportunity he can these days to campaign for Pekka Rinne as a candidate for some of the National Hockey League's top individual honors, in particular those for the league's top goalie and most valuable player. "I think he's a Vezina and a Hart [Trophy] candidate," Trotz said recently. Similarly, there is virtually no question who will be Trotz's starting goalie over the remaining three weeks of the season. "I just told [Rinne], 'You're going to be in every game unless I say you're not," he said. Rinne actually rested when the Predators and Buffalo Sabres met Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. Both teams played"
Preds goalie catches like a shortstop
March 6
Tennessean
 
"A rolling puck rocketed toward Predators goalie Pekka Rinne during last Thursday's game against the Canucks. With the calmness and coolness of a seasoned baseball player, Rinne simply knelt down and fielded it with his glove. "He could be a shortstop in some situations," Predators goaltending Coach Mitch Korn said. Rinne's natural attributes are easily identifiable. At 6-foot-5, he can take up most of the net. He combines that with quickness, so he's not often caught out of position. He's a good stick-handler, which helps with outlet passes. But his ability to snuff second chances with his hands has helped turn Rinne into one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. "He's really active with"
Rinne blanks Vancouver as Predators get much-needed win
March 4
Nashville City Paper
 
"Blake Geoffrion scored his second goal in as many games and Pekka Rinne recorded his fifth shutout of the season as the Nashville Predators got a much-needed victory, 3-0 over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in Vancouver. "It feels great," Rinne said. "Obviously, it's been a little bit of a struggle for us lately. Vancouver is an outstanding team." Rinne made 29 saves, including 12 in the third period, against the team with the NHL's best record. He faced at least 30 shots in each of the previous four shutouts. It was the 19th time Rinne held an opponent scoreless and moved him within two of Tomas Vokoun's all-time franchise record. For a time, it seemed every save was essential. The"
Predators prepared to ride Rinne the rest of the regular season
March 3
Nashville City Paper
 
"The Nashville Predators did have questions in regard to goalie Pekka Rinne at the start of the season, but none of them involved whether or not he could play. The 28-year-old answered those when he went 61-31-9 over the past two seasons and emerged at the top of the organizational depth chart. Franchise officials wondered, therefore, how many games Rinne should play this season. It was an issue of balance between the need to win as many games as possible during the regular season and to make sure he still was healthy and sharp enough to help them win in the postseason. With 18 games remaining in this season and the Predators in the thick of a furious playoff chase, the answer no seems"
Predators suffer third-period meltdown
February 23
Tennessean
 
"Pekka Rinne's face was buried in his hands. Around him in the locker room, the only noises among the Predators following their 4-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night were the tearing of tape and packing of equipment. Predators Coach Barry Trotz said hoped his team felt a particular emotion. "I hope they're (ticked) off," Trotz said. The Blue Jackets rode four unanswered third-period goals to victory in front of an announced crowd of 12,457 at Nationwide Arena. It was the Predators' (31-21-8) third loss in four games, and they're now 4-4-2 in their past 10 games. The Predators entered the game tied for fifth in the Western Conference, but by the time they wake up Thursday"
Rinne stays red hot against Red Wings
February 10
Tennessean
 
"Four of the last five days have been banner ones for goaltender Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. On Wednesday, he picked up his second win over Detroit since Saturday. In those two games, Rinne has allowed just one goal. "They always have a dangerous power play and their power play gets them going and once we did a good job on the penalty kill, that was the key for us," Rinne said. "That's the kind of team that is going to get some chances, but, I was able to see the puck pretty well, and the guys did a really good job." Rinne stopped 34 of 35 shots on Wednesday after being pulled in Monday's 4-0 loss to Edmonton. He also was helped by a couple of Detroit near misses. Pavel Datsyuk hit the"
Predators surge to 5-1 win
January 21
Tennessean
 
"Shaken hours earlier by the loss of Tomas Fleischmann to a season-ending illness, the Colorado Avalanche were no match for the surging Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne stopped 32 shots to lift the Predators to a 5-1 win Thursday night over an Avalanche team suddenly dealing with the absence of Fleischmann, who will miss the rest of the season due to blood clots in his lungs. "That's tough," teammate Paul Stastny said. "I don't think you think much about hockey when you lose a player like that." Known for their sound defensive play, the Predators showed they could score a little bit, too, tying a season high with five goals. It was the second straight game in which they scored that many."