Posts tagged Pekka Rinne
Preview #15: Injuries plague Predators as Nashville visits Anaheim
01 year ago
Season Records
Nashville Predators 7-5-2
Anaheim Ducks 5-6-3
Pekka Rinne will likely be back in net for Nashville when the Predators take on the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night at Honda Center in the second game of back-to-back contests in Southern California.
Tuesday night in Los Angeles, the Predators lost a game in regulation for the first time since a 3-1 loss to San Jose at Bridgestone Arena on October 25th. The Kings were in the midst of a five game losing skid that was halted with the win. Los Angeles went into the third period with a 4-2 lead over Nashville. When entering the final frame of a game with a lead, the Kings had 61-0-3 record in their last 64 outings heading into Tuesday night’s contest. The Predators were unable to capitalize on a King’s squad that had played 24 hours earlier in San Jose and Anders Lindback recorded his first loss of the season.
With just 1:21 left in the game, Patric Hornqvist brought the Predators within one goal of tying the game with the extra attacker on the ice and the net empty. It was the sixth consecutive game that Hornqvist scored a goal.
Wednesday night will be the Predators second meeting against the Ducks in less than two weeks. On October 29th, the Predators hosted their first game against the Ducks since eliminating Anaheim from the playoffs in 6 games in last year’s Western Conference quarter finals. While Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf said that the team wasn’t concerned with playing their old playoff nemesis, Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry commented that some players in the dressing room had a long memory.
Despite nerves, Bourque has solid home debut in Preds 4-1 win over Washington
01 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Game Recap
Gabriel Bourque came to town this September with one goal in mind, making the Predators roster out of training camp.
In the opening minutes of Wednesday night’s game between the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals, the left wing had an opportunity to show why he deserves a spot on the opening night roster when he broke up a play at the Nashville blue line and skated the puck deep into the Capitals zone. But Bourque was unable to capitalize on the opportunity as he elected to pass the puck on the 2-on-1 rather than shoot it on goal. The play way broken up by Capitals defenseman Mike Green.
“I was a little nervous. It was my first game in Nashville. I was too nervous. I should have shot, but I tried to pass,” Bourque said after the game.
Despite the failed breakaway attempt, Bourque played a solid game registering two shots on goal, had two other shots blocked, as well as registering one hit, one take away and one blocked shot.
Bourque’s linemates on Wednesday were Cal O’Reilly and Patric Hornqvist. The Rimouski, Quebec native also saw time on both the power play and on the penalty kill, and says he was comfortable on the ice in all situations. “I was feeling pretty good out there. The only bad thing I did tonight was I didn’t shoot when I had the breakaway.I think it was a good game for me.”
Keeping Weber in Nashville may depend on signing Suter, Rinne to long-term deals
21 year ago
On Wednesday afternoon, Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber was awarded the largest arbitration award in NHL history. The one year, $7.5 million deal keeps Weber as a restricted free agent at the end of next season.
“Shea certainly got recognized as one of the top, if the the best, defenseman in the National Hockey League,” General Manager David Poile said, adding that his value has been known for the last several years in Nashville.
“He is all about competing and competing for the Stanley Cup.” Poile said, acknowledging that the Predators have a better shot of winning the Cup with Weber in the lineup.
Poile told reporters that the two sides negotiated “long and hard,” had many meetings about the contract and discussed both one-year as well as longer term deals.
At the end of the day, however, nothing could come together as term, length and structure of deal were all problems.
Weber awarded 1 year, $7.5m deal in arbitration
01 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in News
Shea Weber has been awarded a 1-year deal worth $7.5 million by a neutral arbitrator. Tim Wharnsby of the CBC broke the news over Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
The Predators organization elected arbitration with their star captain to make sure that no other team could sign the defenseman to an offer sheet that Nashville could not match.
General Manager David Poile wanted to lock up Weber long-term, avoiding the arbitration hearing, but a deal was never reached before the August 2nd hearing.
The Weber camp had the option of asking for a one year or two year deal. Going with a one year settlement means that Weber will again be a restricted free agent when his contract expires July 1, 2012.
Weber remains an RFA at the end of next season because will not be 27 until August and he has not played enough full seasons in the NHL to qualify for an under-27 unrestricted free agent.
PredNation on Weber watch
01 year ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in News
The Nashville Predators look to avoid arbitration by coming to an agreement on a new contract for captain Shea Weber, but have less than 24 hours remaining before the arbitration hearing is scheduled.
The hearing is set for Tuesday morning in Toronto.
Last season, the 6’4 Sicamous, B.C. native scored 16 goals, adding 32 assists for 48 points. Getting Weber signed long term is the ultimate goal for general manager David Poile who also needs to deal with Ryan Suter and Pekka Rinne re-signing. Both are set to become unrestricted free agents in July 2012.
If Weber and the team go to arbitration, Poile will likely have a more difficult time signing the other two stars. Worst case scenario is all three leave Music City. If Weber and the team do go to arbitration, and Weber elects a one-year award, the captain would still be a restricted free agent at the end of next season.
Weber, the face of the franchise, is an All-Star, Norris Trophy nominated Canadian Olympian.
*More to come as news breaks
Photo credit: Getty Images
Nashville’s historic season ends, Canucks move on to Western Conference finals
02 years ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in News
Nashville lost another one-goal game as the Vancouver Canucks edged the Predators 2-1 to win the Western Conference semi final series in six games. Every game in the series was decided by a single goal, with the exception of Game 4 when Henrik Sedin scored an empty net tally to give the Canucks a two-goal cushion.
“Before we start,” Head Coach Barry Trotz said as he sat down for his post game press conference, “I just want to congratulate the Vancouver Canucks. I thought they played a great series and obviously the coaching staff did a great job.”
The Predators came out Monday night and dominated the first period of play in shots, outshooting the Canucks 11-7, but at the end of 20 minutes trailed 2-0.
“We played well.” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said about Nashville’s first period. “I think they only had a couple chances in the first period. They executed both of those. Those were playoff goals — lucky bounces and they put it in the back of the net.”
Preds Legwand and Ward, stepping up when it counts most
02 years ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Features
The Nashville Predators have been looking for a playoff hero during the Western Conference semi-finals. Goaltender Pekka Rinne has been incredible, keeping the Predators in close one-goal games. But scoring goals against Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo has not been easy.
Mike Fisher, Shea Weber, Jerred Smithson and Jordin Tootoo–heroes in the series against Anaheim–have been all but kept off the scoresheet. Fisher recorded his first point in the series on Saturday night when he set up Joel Ward’s snap shot early in the third period to give the Predators a 3-2 lead.
Predators forwards, and linemates, Ward and David Legwand rose to the challenge Saturday night in Vancouver, each scoring two goals for Nashville.
“Our backs are still against the wall. We have to come home and play hard and get another win at home. You have to fight your way out. We were in a crunch for the last 20-30 games. Hopefully we will be ready to go,” Legwand said about the Game 5 victory and being prepared for Game 6 on Monday.
Predators make history with first ever playoff series win, down Anaheim 4-2
02 years ago
A year ago to the day, the Nashville Predators had the lead in a pivotal game 5 Western Conference Quarter Final against Chicago with under a minute to play. Nashville went on the power play, but then surrendered a shorthanded goal, tying the game. As all Predators fans remember so well, Nashville went on to lose the game and the series in game six at home.
- Legwand’s empty-net goal was insurance for Nashville, who defeated the Ducks 4-2
Sunday night, history was made, but not repeated when the Predators went into the final minute of game 6 against the Ducks with a one-goal lead, and on the power play.
Instead of giving up a goal, David Legwand scored in the empty net.
The first ever player to be drafted by the Nashville Predators added the insurance giving the Predators the two-goal lead with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
“It’s a huge thing for us to move on and get to continue playing. It means a bit. We get to play in round two. There are only going to be 8 teams playing, so that’s exciting for us to get a chance to do,” Legwand said when asked what it meant for him personally to be moving on to the next round.
Rinne nominated for Vezina Trophy
02 years ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in News
On a day that sees the Nashville Predators play their most important game in franchise history, Pekka Rinne, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the award given to the goaltender judged to be the best in the National Hockey League.
- Rinne has been nominated for the Vezina Award
Rinne’s regular season statistics were undeniable. Having played in 64 games, the Finnish netminder ended the season with a 2.12 GAA, good for third in the League behind the other two Vezina nominees, Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. His .930 save percentage was second in the League to Thomas.
Thomas is the favorite to win the Award. A Vezina winner in 2009, Thomas lost his starting position last season to Tuukka Rask but regained it this year on his way to leading the League in both goals against and save percentage.
Luongo also put up good numbers, leading his team to the President’s Trophy. His 2.11 GAA that was second only to Thomas and he finished fourth in the League with a .928 save percentage.
Predators expectations never higher: Playoffs start Wednesday for Nashville
02 years ago
by Amanda DiPaolo
in Features
The Nashville Predators will open their Western Conference Quarter-finals against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, April 13th at Honda Center.
- To beat the Ducks, the Preds need to stop Perry
In a battle of offense versus defense, the Predators big guns will look to stop some of the NHL’s most talented forwards in order to move on to the second round of the playoffs. Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and goaltender Pekka Rinne will have to contend with Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, as well as Mikku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.
Predators Head Coach, Barry Trotz, says that one thought comes to mind when you think of the Ducks. “When you think about Anaheim, you think about the big line, that’s where it starts and ends,” Trotz said, adding, “Out of the players who have come through in the last couple of months, [Perry] has been as good as anybody. He’d be my MVP vote for the West.”
