Nashville Predators: Pekka Rinne picks up 300th win in rout of Sharks
Pekka Rinne won his 300th career game last night, as the Nashville Predators routed the San Jose Sharks 7-1.
Pekka Rinne has been the backbone of the Nashville Predators throughout his time in Nashville. There is no telling where the Predators would be if he wasn’t in Nashville. There is no doubt that Rinne is one of the main reasons for the Predators recent success. Rinne will also be a huge part of the Predators if they want to make another run at the Stanley Cup title.
Last night, the Nashville Predators absolutely crushed the Sharks as Rinne picked up his 300th career win. Only 33 other goalies in the history of the NHL have reached that achievement. One of the more impressive facts about this milestone is that it took Rinne only 552 games to reach this achievement.
Rinne is the 3rd Finnish goaltender to reach the 300 win mark. Miikka Kiprusoff currently holds the record for the most wins from a Finnish goaltender with 319 wins. Kari Lehtonen, the goaltender for the Dallas Stars, currently has 306 wins. Both Rinne and Lehtonen will likely pass Kiprusoff’s record next season.
Being named the number one star of the night after securing his 300th NHL win, #Preds Pekka Rinne displays some raw emotional in his chat with @KaraHammer down at Nashville's bench postgame. What a guy! pic.twitter.com/TUVJsK8g0D
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) February 23, 2018
How can you not love Rinne after watching this interview? Rinne knows how much he means to the organization and knows how much his teammates love him, and that showed through his emotions throughout the interviews last night.
#Preds Pekka Rinne on what brought him to tears during the interview: “The fans’ reaction... and how your parents are watching the game.” *tears up again*
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) February 23, 2018
Game Recap
The Nashville Predators came out of the gate firing. There was no way the Predators would come out and lose this game on an important night for Rinne. The Predators threw 15 shots on goal during the first period alone. The Predators took a 2-0 lead into the 1st intermission on goals from Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell.
Logan Couture cut the lead in half midway through the 2nd period on an odd angled shot. That was all that the Sharks were able to get on the board, as the Predators dominated the rest of the game.
Kevin Fiala scored a crazy goal late in the 2nd period. Fiala deked Aaron Dell without the puck, as the puck went through his legs and into the goal. Many fans were wondering if Fiala actually meant to do that move or if it just luckily slid through. Either way, it was a sick goal.
Viktor Arvidsson continued his hot streak as he scored on a power play goal early in the 3rd period to increase the Predators lead to 4-1. Ryan Johansen, Mattias Ekholm and Calle Jarnkrok all tallied goals in the 3rd period, as the Predators came out on top 7-1.
Rinne finished the night with 33 saves and a save percentage of .971. Rinne also recieved the 1st Star.