Predlines
Fansided

Nashville Predators: 4 Takeaways from Disappointing End to Season

By Chad Minton

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) after the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 22, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Nashville 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) shakes hands with Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis (5) after the game between the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators on April 22, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Nashville 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 22: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a glove save against the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 22, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 22: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a glove save against the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 22, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Pekka Rinne wasn’t the problem

Some of the very outspoken critics can’t use Rinne as the scapegoat this time around. Rinne most likely kept this from being over in five games, or even a sweep. He played incredible for most of the series despite very little defense played in front of him. He was called on time and time again to bail out his teammates and stop onslaught after onslaught from the Stars. He gave the Predators a chance to steal Game 6 and push it to a Game 7. If that happens, and it could’ve easily ended that way, then the conversation is much different right now.

If you just look at Rinne’s basic numbers in the series, you may rush to the conclusion that he had a terrible series. After all, a save percentage barely over 90 and giving up more than three goals per game isn’t good. However, I can argue that the Stars should’ve lit the Predators up for five or six goals per game with all of the pressure and scoring chances they piled up over the series. Rinne kept this from being a blood bath.

Both Dallas and Nashville accounted for the same amount of high danger chances in the series at 82. Dallas capitalized on just eight of those chances, per Natural Stat Trick. Those totals are much higher than every other playoff team outside of San Jose and Vegas. His high-danger save percentage of 86 is also higher than many of the other playoff goaltenders. So Rinne did a masterful job at keeping Dallas from really running the score up in a few of the games.

Rinne certainly wasn’t the problem in this series. It will be an interesting offseason to see how the dynamic unfolds with Juuse Saros waiting in the wings to take over. Saros did play well in relief of Rinne in the Game 4 blowout.

Home/Stanley Cup Playoffs