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Nashville Predators: Top Five Reasons for Success in 2017-18

By Treigh Patterson

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 03: Pregame lighting ceremonies prior to game 3 of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on June 3, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 03: Pregame lighting ceremonies prior to game 3 of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on June 3, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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#3 Goaltending

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Six of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bridgestone Arena on June 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Six of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bridgestone Arena on June 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Every successful team in the NHL all have one thing in common, and that is solid goaltending. Great forwards and superb defensive play will only get a team so far. If a team has a goalie that can’t stop a beach ball, they likely won’t make it too far. Luckily for Nashville they do not have this problem.

The Predators will be returning veteran goaltender Pekka Rinne for his 10th NHL season. Rinne is still an elite goaltender and he proved that during the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year. He had a couple of games that did not go his way, but that does not take away from the magnificent run he had.

Statistically, Rinne is still performing at the top of his game. He had a GAA 2.42 in the regular season. He lowered that number to 1.96 during the playoffs. The league average was a 2.59, much higher than Rinne.  His save percentage was at .918. For reference, Rinne’s career save percentage is a .917.

Sure, it is safe to assume that his play might drop a little bit. But, that happens to any player as they age. As we stand now, though; Pekka Rinne is an elite, top-10 goaltender in the NHL. However, should he falter, Nashville has a strong goaltender as his backup, Juuse Saros.

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