Rinne shuts out Blackhawks for 2nd straight game
Another playoff game, another Pekka Rinne clean sheet.
The veteran goaltender kept the Chicago Blackhawks off the board for the second time in as many games as the Nashville Predators earned a 5-0 victory and took a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series Saturday night.
Rinne made 30 saves in the contest after holding the Blackhawks scoreless with 29 stops in Game 1 on Thursday night.
Chicago made some unwanted history as its offensive struggles continued.
#Blackhawks are the 7th team in NHL history to be shut out at home in both Games 1 & 2 of a playoff series
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 16, 2017
It's the first time Rinne has posted back-to-back shutouts in more than four years, previously pulling off the feat in February 2013, according to FOX Sports Tennessee's Kristopher Martel.
Both of the Predators wins in this series came at Chicago's United Center, so they'll take their 2-0 series lead home to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for Game 3 on Monday night.
The 34-year-old netminder knows the series is far from over, but is looking forward to having the home-ice advantage.
"We're not going to underestimate the team we're playing, but it's going to be so awesome to be in front of our fans for two games," Rinne said postgame, according to Thomas Willis of the Predators' official website.