Rinne’s wait finally over
NASHVILLE — Getting the puck by Pekka Rinne is tough enough most nights.
Knocking the smile off his face is nearly impossible right now.
The 34-year-old goaltender and the Nashville Predators’ longest-tenured player finally will play in his first Stanley Cup Final in his ninth full NHL season. The best-of-seven series starts Monday with the Predators on the road.
“As a player, I feel like I’ve had a fairly long career and never had this opportunity — so, very fortunate and really appreciate this opportunity,” Rinne said. “I guess as a player you just enjoy being in this position — enjoy the chance that you get, and you put your body on the line every night and give everything you have.”
Teammates call the 6-foot-5 native of Kampele, Finland, the backbone of the Predators, and he’s probably the best goalie in the world at the moment. He handles the puck like an extra defenseman. He foils the dumpand-chase efforts of opponents. And, oh, is he good in front of the net — aggressive with forwards in the crease, seeing seemingly everything and occasionally making saves with a contortion that brings to mind Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek.
Not only is Rinne a playoff-best 12-4, his .945 save percentage ranks third all-time for a single postseason behind a pair of Conn Smythe Trophy winners — Jean-Sebastien Giguere for Anaheim in 2003 and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles in 2012, according to HockeyReference. com. Rinne’s 1.70 goals-against average is 10th all-time for a single postseason.
“What he does every night, you can’t put into words,” Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban said.
The 19-year-old franchise has reached its first championship series behind Rinne’s standout performances.
After Nashville ousted Anaheim in six games in the Western Conference finals, Rinne now is even stingier on home ice with a 7-1 record, 1.54 GAA and .947 save percentage. In last Monday’s Game 6 victory, he made 38 saves as Nashville took only 18 shots.
“Anytime you need to close a series out,” Rinne said, “you know that as a goalie you’ve got to be good and as a team you’ve got to be good.”
Rinne has been better than good. He also has the skill to skate out to play the puck, and with coach Peter Laviolette’s team clogging the neutral zone to slow opponents, Rinne is an extra (tall) layer of frustration waiting at the end of the ice for opponents who dump the puck in — even those high on the glass.
Anaheim defenseman Kevin Bieksa said Rinne will throw his body against the glass to knock the puck down so he can pass it out to a teammate essentially turning the goalie into another defender.
“You don’t see many goalies that aggressive,” Bieksa said. “And he’s gone out, he’s played a lot of pucks. And he’s good at it. One of their strengths, for sure.”
The only surprise is that it took Rinne, who has 34 playoff victories, this long to reach his first Stanley Cup Final. He’s a three-time finalist for the Vezina Trophy (given annually to the NHL’s best goalie), led the league with 43 wins in 2011-12 and was MVP of the 2014 world championships.
Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm said Rinne’s competitive streak comes out on the ice.
“He will put his foot down, and say, ‘Hey, this is my crease. This is where I am,’” Ekholm said. “So I wouldn’t say he’s as polite on the ice versus our opponents. He’s always a competitor, and he always wants to win.”
“As a player, I feel like I’ve had a fairly long career and never had this opportunity ... I guess as a player you just enjoy being in this position — enjoy the chance that you get, and you put your body on the line every night and give everything you have.” – PEKKA RINNE