On the Forecheck
Rinne reigns
by Forechecker on 01/28/09 at 05:12 PM ET
Comments (0)
Barry Trotz refuses to say as much, but his actions appear to indicate that Pekka Rinne has assumed the starter’s role in the Nashville net these days, as he’s been tabbed to start tonight’s game in Vancouver. The worries of some of the Preds’ fans seem to be coming true in terms of how Dan Ellis is getting handled, but some of his poor starts lately may have put the team’s season on the brink of ruin.
So, for your Predators Question of the Week, I ask you: Who should be Nashville’s #1 Goaltender?
It’s pretty clear what the coach thinks, if you take a look at recent work trends…
| Date | Opp. | Starter | GA | Saves | Sv Pct. | Reliever | Goals | Saves | Sv Pct. |
| 12/26/2008 | Detroit | Ellis | 2 | 38 | .950 | ||||
| 12/28/2008 | Edmonton | Ellis | 4 | 13 | .765 | Rinne | 1 | 15 | .938 |
| 12/29/2008 | Colorado | Rinne | 5 | 16 | .762 | ||||
| 01/01/2009 | Vancouver | Rinne | 2 | 30 | .938 | ||||
| 01/03/2009 | Calgary | Ellis | 3 | 23 | .885 | ||||
| 01/06/2009 | Colorado | Rinne | 2 | 19 | .905 | ||||
| 01/08/2009 | Pittsburgh | Ellis | 2 | 5 | .714 | Rinne | 1 | 17 | .944 |
| 01/10/2009 | Chicago | Rinne | 1 | 34 | .971 | ||||
| 01/11/2009 | Chicago | Ellis | 2 | 30 | .938 | ||||
| 01/13/2009 | Toronto | Rinne | 0 | 17 | 1.000 | ||||
| 01/15/2009 | Montreal | Rinne | 3 | 17 | .850 | ||||
| 01/17/2009 | Atlanta | Ellis | 3 | 1 | .250 | Rinne | 4 | 24 | .857 |
| 01/19/2009 | New Jersey | Rinne | 2 | 32 | .941 |
That’s 13 games, with 7 starts and a total Save Percentage of .913 for Rinne, and 6 starts/.873 for Ellis. Coming out of the All-Star break with all the rest one could ask for, Trotz has tabbed Rinne for tonight’s game. At this point, Dan’s not getting back in there unless Pekka stumbles, and that, to me, says that Trotz has made his choice. Now granted, it may not be a very firm choice, and the old saw definitely applies here: “If you have two #1 goalies, you really don’t have any.”
As the big young Finn takes his spot in the crease, my fantasy hockey team is set to take a beating, but the Predators are hoping for some stability in goal, and that, based on the last few weeks, is what Rinne has been providing.
Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Tags: dan+ellis, pekka+rinne,
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
A pivotal Predators prospect: Colin Wilson
Canadian hockey team on the road to Nashville
Two recreational hockey players die on same night, at same rink
Calgary investor Brett Wilson to buy stake in the Nashville Predators
Preds enjoy a command performance
To buy or not to buy? That is the question…
About Kukla’s Korner
Kukla’s Korner is updated around the clock with the work of our own talented bloggers, plus links to the best hockey writing around the internet. We strive to bring you all the breaking hockey news as it happens.
The home page allows you to see the latest postings from every blog on the site. Subscribe here. For general inquiries and more, please contact us anytime.
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.