Pekka Rinne, the Predators, and the entire city of Nashville needed those two saves. But especially Rinne.

Despite some foolish speculation that Rinne might watch Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final from the bench after two subpar efforts to begin the series, the Finn got the start and came up huge in the second period, stopping Phil Kessel's low shot and then reaching across his body to make a glove save on the rebound, which Chris Kunitz found in the slot.

They were timely saves, too, coming shortly after the Predators took their first lead of the series.

If Pekka's back, we may have a series.

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