Predators must stick with Rinne for Game 3, at least to start
Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette was given two specific opportunities to address Pekka Rinne's status following a Game 2 loss in which the goaltender was pulled, but didn't come outright and say if he plans to go right back to a player largely responsible for getting his team to the Stanley Cup Final in the first place.
Instead, Laviolette pointed to how good Rinne has been for the Predators through the regular season and playoffs, calling his play both "terrific" and "excellent" while adding the team as a whole can do better.
Again, an endorsement, but one that left the door open ever so slightly for speculation to arise as to whether Laviolette would be willing to turn to rookie Juuse Saros for Game 3.
First, a look at Rinne's numbers round-by-round to show how steep a drop they've taken in the championship round.
| Round | Opponent | Shots Against | Saves | Save % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackhawks | 126 | 123 | .976 |
| 2 | Blues | 162 | 151 | .932 |
| 3 | Ducks | 186 | 172 | .925 |
| 4 | Penguins | 36 | 28 | .778 |
Let's be clear about one thing: there was no way Rinne was going to replicate the success he had against Chicago or even St. Louis, with his numbers against Anaheim falling more in line with his career regular season save percentage of .917. But what's happened to date against Pittsburgh has been nothing short of catastrophic, leaving Nashville with zero margin for error.
And turning to Saros at this point would be just that: an error in judgement.
For one thing, Nashville has yet to play a Final game at home, where Rinne has been nothing short of brilliant:
Rinne is 7-1 with a .947 SV%, 1.54 GAA at home this postseason, including 3-0 with a .949 SV%, 1.22 GAA in Game 3s. No debate. He starts.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 1, 2017
Saros, by the way, posted a record of 3-3-3 with a save percentage of .918 in nine appearances at home this season. Good, but not mind blowing.
And here's the thing: through the first two games, the Predators have largely been driving possession and hold a 64-39 advantage in shots, but ultimately had wins taken from them on opportunities created by some Nashville mistakes leading to Penguins odd-man rushes and, to be clear, some shoddy goaltending on Rinne's part.
But two poor road games in which the Predators weren't blown out by any standard should not warrant turning to Saros, who brings just two AHL playoff appearances and 16 minutes of NHL postseason experience to the table.
While Saros is likely the starter of the future for the Predators, Rinne deserves the opportunity to prove himself in Game 3, where the raucous hometown crowd should provide the whole team with a boost.
"Five and a half periods we really liked things we did," Laviolette said after Game 2. "There's a stretch where they gained some momentum. They're able to capitalize, be opportunistic. Swung two games in their favor.
"Maybe (we need) a little bit more consistency. But certainly we're happy to get home. Our home building has been a good place for us."
In short, tighten up the defense, light the lamp early, Rinne gains confidence from a few timely saves, and the Predators are right back in this thing.
Should Rinne falter early, however, Laviolette should be quick to pull the trigger on a switch in favor of Saros.