Saturday, March 30, 2019
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Pekka Rinne’s difficulties against the Penguins, particularly in Pittsburgh, have been well documented.
So, it felt good for the Nashville Predators’ star goaltender to put those questions to rest — at least for one night.
Rinne stopped 42 shots to lead the Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.
“It hasn’t been an easy building for me, personally,” Rinne said, “and for us as a team, either.”
It was the second game in eight days between the teams and a rematch of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, won by Pittsburgh in six games.
Rinne won for the first time in Pittsburgh and defeated the Penguins for just the second time in 10 career regular-season starts. In six previous career starts in Pittsburgh, including the playoffs, Rinne was 0-6-0 with a 5.14 goals-against average and a .822 save percentage. He allowed three goals or more in every other appearance in Pittsburgh.
“Those kinds of things, you kind of recognize them and it’s in the back of your head, but at the same time, it’s always a great challenge and I love to come here and play,” Rinne said.
Viktor Arvidsson’s 32nd goal of the season — a power-play goal — set a career high and also was the 100th of his NHL career. Craig Smith and P.K. Subban also scored for the Predators, who moved into a first-place tie in the Central Division. Nashville, which clinched its fifth straight playoff berth Monday, has won five of seven after losing four of its previous six.
Rinne was 63 seconds from his fifth shutout of the season when Nick Bjugstad scored for Pittsburgh.
Matt Murray made 23 saves for the Penguins, whose three-game winning streak ended. Pittsburgh, which had a chance to tie the New York Islanders for second in the Metropolitan Division, came in having won 10 of 15 games and earned points in 14 of 16.
“I thought we had some really good chances in the first period,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “You can’t always control whether it goes in the net. Their goalie was good, you have to give him credit, but I thought our team battled hard.”
Rinne allowed 12 goals and made just 34 saves during three 2017 Stanley Cup Final games in Pittsburgh. He was strong on Friday, stopping 22 first-period shots. Rinne has eight wins and one shutout in his last 13 starts total.