The Nashville Predators season came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday as they lost 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Predators players and fans watched the Penguins celebrate their Cup victory on Nashville\u2019s home ice. The Predators were two wins short of completing their Cinderella story, but in the end could not dethrone the reigning champions. Once the pain and hurt of defeat subsides, there will be left a glowing light surrounding the Predators 2016-2017 season. The team now knows the taste of success. Their appetite for it will only grow, and they have the team in place to be able to soon challenge for the Cup again.<\/p>\n
This postseason saw Pekka Rinne<\/b><\/a> redeem himself in the eyes of many hockey fans and media alike. Throughout the season, backup Juuse Saros<\/a> <\/b>posted solid numbers. In 21 games played, with 19 starts, Saros accumulated a .923 save percentage with a 2.35 goals-allowed average. With Saros\u2019 strong play and a few shaky stretches by Rinne, some called for Saros’ promotion to starting goalie.<\/p>\n The Predators management and coaching staff stuck by Rinne. He has been their number-one goalie for nine years now. He has been solid, if not totally consistent, throughout his tenure. No goalie is immune from ups and downs. Rinne was at his best in the two seasons from 2010 to 2012 where his regular season save percentage hovered around .930. Since then his numbers have trended downward as he ages.<\/p>\n At 34 years old, Rinne put up respectable numbers this year. He finished the regular season with a .918 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-allowed average. Then something happened to him. Rinne was fantastic through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks managed to score just three goals against him. He outplayed another hot goaltender in Jake Allen<\/a><\/b> in Round 2. His only blemish throughout the playoffs was his inability to win in Pittsburgh. This can not all be blamed on Rinne, but it was striking the difference between his numbers in Pittsburgh versus his numbers at home.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, despite a few shaky moments, Rinne was the team\u2019s most valuable player. He finished the postseason with a .930 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-allowed average. Rinne showed that he is still capable of great play. He regained the trust of fans, and likely built back his confidence in himself.<\/p>\n Due to injury, the Predators were forced to rely on new faces throughout these playoffs. Colton Sissons<\/a><\/b>, Pontus Aberg<\/a><\/b>, and Frederick Gaudreau<\/a><\/b> all took on larger roles as the postseason wore on. Sissons eventually found himself squaring off against Sidney Crosby<\/a> <\/b>as the team\u2019s number-one center. Gaudreau proved to be a pest, slotting perfectly into an energy role on the team\u2019s fourth line.<\/p>\n Aberg found himself playing on the top line with Sissons and Filip Forsberg<\/a><\/b>. He scored one of the playoffs\u2019 prettiest goals, reminiscent of Viktor Arvidsson<\/a><\/b>\u2019s dazzler the year before. Aberg also just happens to be about the same age as Arvidsson. He\u2019s slightly bigger at 5\u201911\u201d, 196, and he\u2019s a fellow Swede. The Predators would love for him to continue to follow Arvidsson\u2019s lead and break out next year.<\/p>\nThe Kids are Alright<\/h3>\n