Subban defends Rinne: 'He's the backbone of this team'

In P.K. Subban's eyes, Pekka Rinne is not responsible for the Nashville Predators' demise in Game 7.

The club fell to the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on home ice in a game highlighted by Rinne, who was pulled early in the first period after allowing two goals on seven shots.

Rinne claimed postgame that he felt he had let his team down, but Subban wasn't having it.

"Critics that want to criticize him don't know what they're talking about, I don't care if they played in the NHL or not," Subban said, per Brady Trettenero of the Nation Network. "He's the backbone of our hockey club and he's one of the main reasons we're here.

"I'm sick and tired of people always talking about him. He's the backbone of this team. He's the main reason we're here. You talk about top goaltenders in the league it's him, it's (Carey) Price, it's (Andrei) Vasilevskiy, it's (Connor) Hellebuyck, it's these guys. You're lucky to have one of them."

While Subban might not believe Game 7 was Rinne's fault, it's hard not to wonder if the team might have had a better fate in the series had it gotten stronger play from its No. 1 netminder.

Rinne concluded the postseason with a .904 save percentage. The 35-year-old was abysmal at home during the second round, posting an .848 save percentage and 4.93 goals-against average at Bridgestone Arena.