Pekka Rinne's having a time.
The Nashville Predators are off to their first Stanley Cup Final, and they have their goaltender to thank. Rinne has been out of this world this spring, and he punctuated his playoff performance Monday night by stopping 38-of-41 shots during a game in which his team fired only 16 pucks on Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonathan Bernier. The Ducks had 16 shots in the third period alone.
Rinne's been masterful, any way you look at it.
Since the lockout
Going back to 2005-06, the first season after the 2004-05 lockout, only one goalie to win at least 12 playoff games in a season has bettered Rinne's .941 save percentage (the Finn has stopped a remarkable 446-of-474 shots).
| Rank | Goalie | Season | SV% | GP | Stanley Cup? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Quick (LAK) | 2011-12 | .946 | 20 | Yes |
| 2 | Rinne (NSH) | 2016-17 | .941 | 16 | TBD |
| 3 | Tim Thomas (BOS) | 2010-11 | .940 | 25 | Yes |
| 4 | Tuukka Rask (BOS) | 2012-13 | .940 | 22 | Lost SCF |
| 5 | Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) | 2007-08 | .933 | 20 | Lost SCF |
As you can see, a goaltending performance like Rinne's ends one of two ways.
All time
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Going back 100 years, Rinne's .941 percentage ranks third all time among goalies to win at least 12 games in a postseason. He's submitting a playoff performance that betters legends and Hall of Famers like Martin Brodeur, Dominik Hasek, and Patrick Roy.
| Rank | Goalie | Season | SV% | GP | Stanley Cup? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quick (LAK) | 2011-12 | .946 | 20 | Yes |
| 2 | Jean-Sebastien Giguere (ANA) | 2002-03 | .945 | 21 | Lost SCF |
| 3 | Rinne (NSH) | 2016-17 | .941 | 16 | TBD |
| 4 | Olaf Kolzig (WSH) | 1997-98 | .941 | 21 | Lost SCF |
| 5 | Thomas (BOS) | 2010-11 | .940 | 25 | Yes |
| 6 | Rask (BOS) | 2012-13 | .940 | 22 | Lost SCF |
| 7 | Hasek (BUF) | 1998-99 | .939 | 19 | Lost SCF |
| 8 | Brodeur (NJD) | 2002-03 | .934 | 24 | Yes |
| 9 | Roy (COL) | 2000-01 | .934 | 23 | Yes |
| 10 | Nikolai Khabibulin (TBL) | 2003-04 | .933 | 23 | Yes |
At his age
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
As The Athletic's James Mirtle pointed out, Rinne's performance is that much more impressive considering he's 34 years old.
In fact, what Rinne's doing at his age is unprecedented. Only six goalies 34 or older have won at least 11 games in a postseason with a save percentage of at least .930.
| Rank | Goalie | Age | Season | SV% | GP | Stanley Cup? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rinne (NSH) | 34 | 2016-17 | .941 | 16 | TBD |
| 2 | Thomas (BOS) | 36 | 2010-11 | .940 | 25 | Yes |
| 3 | Hasek (BUF) | 34 | 1998-99 | .939 | 19 | Lost SCF |
| 4 | Roy (COL) | 35 | 2000-01 | .934 | 23 | Yes |
| 5 | Ed Belfour (DAL) | 34 | 1999-00 | .931 | 23 | Lost SCF |
| 6 | Chris Osgood (DET) | 35 | 2007-08 | .930 | 19 | Yes |
(On an aside, what Tim Thomas did in 2010-11 at 36 was stunning.)
The numbers don't lie. Should the Predators win the final, Rinne will be the reason why, and he'll have a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup to show for a dream-like run in the playoffs.
(Data courtesy: Hockey Reference)
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