Talking 'Tenders
Tuesday, 04.24.2012 / 10:22 AM
By Tom Callahan - Nashville Predators / Tom Callahan's 2012 Playoffs Blog
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Usually in Nashville when lunch talk trends towards ‘tenders, it’s the fried chicken variety. Crunchy, tasty, chicken tenders… sorry, where was I?
This time of year, talkin’ ‘tenders means you could also be discussing the Predators/Phoenix Coyotes series that will start later this week in Arizona. The undeniable storyline here will be which goaltender moves his team past the second round: Pekka Rinne or Mike Smith.
Let’s start with our known commodity, Rinne. Pekka was a Vezina-nominated goaltender last season who in my opinion actually had a better year this year, leading the NHL in wins despite a mini-slump in the early part of the season. Down the stretch not only was he sharp but played almost every game and showed tremendous durability. And when Nashville needed him to be at his best against Detroit, he clearly was as the Preds bounced the Wings in five.
Smith doesn’t have the fanfare that Rinne has heading into the series. He put together a quiet season in Phoenix where he went 38-18-10 with 8 shutouts, a 2.21 GAA and .930 save percentage. Smith was brought in by Dave Tippett to the Coyotes from Tampa Bay, but Tippett knew what he was getting as the two shared time in the Dallas Starsorganization when Smith was a young prospect. While his numbers in Tampa weren’t great, neither were the Bolts. It did generate some head-scratching when the Coyotes brought him in and anointed Smith number one, but this season silenced any doubters. Plus in the first round he posted one shutout, a 1.81 GAA and his save percentage was .950 – a shade better than Rinne’s .944 in his first five games.
Of course the x-factor on defense for the Preds that can really help the team clamp down is Hal Gill. He’s been practicing steadily with the team, hasn’t missed a drill, and coach Barry Trotz expects him to be ready when the team resumes play. That may help an already defensive-minded series get even closer.
So get ready Preds fans – this round promises to be an exciting one with tremendous goaltending and I’m predicting no shortage of excitement!
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
This time of year, talkin’ ‘tenders means you could also be discussing the Predators/Phoenix Coyotes series that will start later this week in Arizona. The undeniable storyline here will be which goaltender moves his team past the second round: Pekka Rinne or Mike Smith.Let’s start with our known commodity, Rinne. Pekka was a Vezina-nominated goaltender last season who in my opinion actually had a better year this year, leading the NHL in wins despite a mini-slump in the early part of the season. Down the stretch not only was he sharp but played almost every game and showed tremendous durability. And when Nashville needed him to be at his best against Detroit, he clearly was as the Preds bounced the Wings in five.
Smith doesn’t have the fanfare that Rinne has heading into the series. He put together a quiet season in Phoenix where he went 38-18-10 with 8 shutouts, a 2.21 GAA and .930 save percentage. Smith was brought in by Dave Tippett to the Coyotes from Tampa Bay, but Tippett knew what he was getting as the two shared time in the Dallas Starsorganization when Smith was a young prospect. While his numbers in Tampa weren’t great, neither were the Bolts. It did generate some head-scratching when the Coyotes brought him in and anointed Smith number one, but this season silenced any doubters. Plus in the first round he posted one shutout, a 1.81 GAA and his save percentage was .950 – a shade better than Rinne’s .944 in his first five games.
Of course the x-factor on defense for the Preds that can really help the team clamp down is Hal Gill. He’s been practicing steadily with the team, hasn’t missed a drill, and coach Barry Trotz expects him to be ready when the team resumes play. That may help an already defensive-minded series get even closer.
So get ready Preds fans – this round promises to be an exciting one with tremendous goaltending and I’m predicting no shortage of excitement!
Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
