Nashville Predators G Pekka Rinne is leading the charge as a top Conn Smythe candidate in 2017
Nashville Predators G Pekka Rinne is playing MVP-quality hockey at the moment.
He is 8-2-0 in the playoffs, with two shutouts and impressive individual stats. He maintains 1.37 goals against average, and a 0.951 save percentage, heading into the Western Conference finals.
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The Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games, winning the series 4-2. They were down 1-0 in Game 6 but scored three straight goals during the final two periods. Rinne faced seven and eight shots in the second and third periods, respectively, but held on for the series-clinching win.
Rinne has been lights-out spectacular since the beginning of the playoffs. He has just two losses since the start and has taken down the Chicago Blackhawks and Blues en route to a Western Conference final appearance.
The Predators have yet to make it this far in the playoffs and have the squad to go all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
If Rinne continues his strong play, the sky is the limit for the Predators.
Ducks or Oilers? That is the Question
The Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers will conclude their action-packed series In Game 7, but both teams present different obstacles.
The Ducks are having consistency issues against the Oilers, but have kept their hopes alive. They play strong defense and fight for the big goals. While the Oilers will present a challenge in the offense and speed departments, the Ducks are physical with strong a strong two-way presence. Last game, the Oilers dismantled the Ducks 7-1, which might help them set up another strong win in Game 7.
Rinne and the Predators will likely welcome either of these challenges. The Predators made the right moves at both ends of the ice, and the transactions are paying dividends. The loss of Shea Weber was heavily criticized, but P.K. Subban is leading the charge on the Predators' blue line.
Last season, the Predators lost in the second round to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. They have consistently improved over the past three seasons, and are playing their best hockey at the right time. The Predators might not have the biggest names at forward, but their balance and goaltending have made them a powerhouse.
