Fansided

The Juuse is loose as Predators pull Pekka Rinne in first period

By David Rouben

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 7: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a save against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 7, 2018 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pekka Rinne
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 7: Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators makes a save against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Six of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 7, 2018 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead /Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pekka Rinne /
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Pekka Rinne is melting down at the worst time for the Nashville Predators as he gets pulled after letting in two bad angle goals in Game 7.

It’s fitting that Pekka Rinne’s backup is named Juuse because, just like O.J. Simpson, the second-stringer is loose. Thanks to two goals allowed in the first period, the Predators pulled Rinne in favor of Juuse Saros.

Rinne has long been a point of contention for Nashville Predators fans. Boston Bruins fans think they have it bad with Tuukka Rask, but with the Nashville netminder, it’s much, much worse. While he’s good more often than not, fans are ready to crucify him whenever he plays poorly. Unfortunately, during this playoff run, those poor games have come at the most inopportune times.

After leading his team to a President’s Trophy in the regular season, Rinne remains the odds-on favorite to win the Vezina. But in the playoffs, he’s been horribly inconsistent, especially in their second-round series against the Winnipeg Jets. He gave up 18 goals in Games 1-3 and 5, compared to just one in Games 4 and 6. That type of inconsistency can be maddening, especially in a series that has gone seven games.

If the Predators wanted to advance to the conference finals, they needed Rinne to be on his game. He was anything but that, as this was the first goal he gave up to Tyler Myers:

https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/994736508467843078

A similarly poor goal to give up followed, and after that, Peter Laviolette had seen enough:

Those two goals will no doubt give Predators fans visions of Patrick Lalime, who infamously let in those bad angle shots in a Game 7. If they’re able to come back, though, it will all be forgotten.

Despite being a backup, Juuse Saros got a decent workload in this season. He started 23 games, got a .925 save percentage and three shutouts. There’s no guarantee that turning to him will provide the spark they need to win, but the Predators have done a good job of keeping his workload down. Since coming into the game, Saros has only faced one shot.

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With their liability in net resolved for the time being, the Predators have started to get their offense going. But just like how Predators fans pinned their Cup Finals loss last year on Rinne, he’ll no doubt be the scapegoat again if the Jets hang on.

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