Rinne’s playoff struggles continue in Game 7

NASHVILLE The last place Pekka Rinne expected to be at the end of this series was sitting on the bench.

But after giving up two goals on seven shots in less than 11 minutes of work in Thursday’s deciding game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Nashville Predators goalie and likely Vezina Trophy winner was pulled by head coach Peter Laviolette.

It was the third time this series and fourth time in the playoffs that Rinne was replaced by Juuse Saros.

Rinne gave up three goals on 16 shots in Game 1 and then he allowed six goals on 26 shots in Game 5 to earn the hook.

Rinne was outstanding in Game 6 to keep the Predators’ season alive, pitching a 34-save shutout to force the deciding game.

But after allowing a sharp-angle goal to Tyler Myers at 8:41, Rinne gave up a rebound goal to Paul Stastny just over two minutes later.

Laviolette couldn’t wait around to see if Rinne was going to reset, so he called a timeout following the second goal and Saros was summoned from the bench.

With the two teams so evenly matched, goaltending was going to play a pivotal role in the series and there was no doubt Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck won the battle of the Vezina candidates.

Rinne, 35, was 42-13-4 in 59 games during the regular season with a 2.31 goals-against average and .927 save percentage with eight shutouts.

When the Predators advanced to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final last spring, Rinne played a key role, going 14-8 with a 1.96 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

But Rinne simply wasn’t good enough in this series.

FRESH BLOOD IN THE HUNT

After the Jets and Predators wrapped up their series Thursday night, there were only four teams left in the hunt for the Stanley Cup.

Only one of them — the Tampa Bay Lightning — has won a championship before.

The Vegas Golden Knights are an expansion team and the Washington Capitals are into the conference final for the first time since 1998.

Jets coach Paul Maurice said it’s good for the league.

“It certainly keeps the hope alive in (four) cities right now,” Maurice said. “It’s up for grabs. It’s right there.”

With no clear favourite left in the playoffs, it put that much more importance on Game 7 Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.

“There’s no secret that you can capture that guarantees it, but that’s why this Game 7 is what it is.” Maurice said before the game.

“That’s why we’re not 100 per cent sure how it’s going to play out. Even if it was the one seed and the eight seed, there’s a chance there. That’s the most exciting thing, that you don’t know.

“There isn’t a five-time Stanley Cup champion that just ran through two series 4-0.”

Ken Wiebe and Ted Wyman