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Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne
Predators - Goaltender
NUMBER: 35
HEIGHT: 6' 5"
WEIGHT: 204
CATCHES: Left
BIRTHDATE: 11/03/1982
AGE: 30
BIRTHPLACE: Kempele, FIN
DRAFTED: NSH: 2004-258 overall
* Finished in the League's Top 10 in goals-against average (2.38), save percentage (.917) and shutouts (7).
* Posted 29 wins in 2008-09, tied (with Andrew Raycroft) for the eighth-most wins by a rookie netminder in NHL history.
* The second goalie in franchise history to win more than 25 games, joining Tomas Vokoun (4 times).
* Had an 18-1-2 record when receiving three or more goals in offensive support.
* Set a franchise record in shutouts, with all of them came in a 32-start span from Dec. 1 at Buffalo to March 13 at Phoenix.

* Won his first six decisions of the season (Oct. 30-Dec. 6), and posted six straight victories again from Feb. 21-March 5, twice tying the second-longest winning streak in franchise history.
* Only one other rookie goaltender besides him has won three 1-0 games in one season (Feb. 21 vs. St. Louis, Dec. 20 vs. N.Y. Islanders & Dec. 6 vs. Minnesota) since the 1943-44 season. Hall of Famer Tony Esposito had four 1-0 shutouts in 1969-70 for Chicago.
* Finished second in shootout save percentage (.792, 19-of-24 attempts stopped) among goals facing at least 15 attempts. Led Nashville to a 5-2 record in the shootout.

* Started 30 of Nashville's final 35 games in 2008-09.
* Named February Rookie of the Month after going 9-2-1, tied for the most wins in the month with Vancouver's Roberto Luongo. His 1.72 goals-against average and .944 save percentage also ranked among the league leaders for the month.
* Made a career-high 46 saves on Feb. 10 vs. Detroit, including 25 in the first period - the second highest single-period total by a netminder in franchise history.

* The eighth player to represent the club in the YoungStars Game during All-Star Weekend.
* Led the Rookie team to a 9-5 victory over the Sophomores, stopping 19 shots, including 12-of-13 in the third period.

* The first rookie netminder to record three shutouts in a single month (December) since Buffalo's Martin Biron in January 2000. Posted his first career white wash on Dec. 1 at Buffalo, then two more in just four starts Dec. 6 vs. Minnesota and Dec. 20 vs. N.Y. Islanders.
* Earned NHL First Star of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 7 after posting two shutouts and only two goals on 83 shots in three starts. Went 3-0-0, and the neither of the two goals allowed were at even strength.
* Collected his first win of the season, and first since Dec. 15, 2005 vs. Chicago, on Oct. 30 vs. Edmonton. It was his second career win .

Career notes
OT Record: 6-3, Shootouts: 5-2, 19-24 shots stopped, .792 Sv.%
2009-10: Set career highs in games played (58) and wins (32)... Tied a career high and franchise record in shutouts (7), ranking third in the League... Became the second goalie in club history to record 30 wins in a season (Tomas Vokoun), moving into third on the franchise's all-time wins list (62)… Posted a 12-4-1 record (second-most wins), a 1.96 goals-against average (third in NHL), .932 save percentage (tied for third) and four shutouts (first) after the Olympic break… Posted four shutouts in a nine-game span from March 12-27, helping him move into second on the franchise’s all-time shutout list (14). All of his shutouts have come since Dec. 1, 2008, most in the League in that span. Nashville has scored two-or-fewer goals in 12 of the 14 whitewashes… One of only two League goaltenders to face at least 25 shootout attempts and record a .750-or-better save percentage… Posted a 149:04 shutout streak from March 16-21, second-longest in franchise history... Named First Star of the Week on March 22 after going 4-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average, a .958 save percentage and two shutouts for the week… Named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week on March 15 after going 2-0-0 with a 1.44 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage… In his 100th NHL appearance on March 12 at Anaheim, he stopped all 31 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout… Named the NHL's Second Star of the Week for the period ending Nov. 1 after going 3-0-0 with a 0.76 goals-against average and .968 save percentage… Named one of Finland’s three best players at the 2010 World Championships after ranking sixth in the tournament in goals-against average (1.68) and 10th in save percentage (.929). PLAYOFFS: Played all six of the team’s postseason contests… Won his playoff debut in Game One, stopping 25-of-26 shots to record the first road win in the franchise’s playoff history... Stopped 82 of the first 86 shots he saw in the WCQ vs. Chicago, including 64-of-66 shots at even strength.

2008-09: Tied for fourth among NHL goaltenders in shutouts with a franchise record (7)… Ranked sixth among league netminders in goals-against average (2.38) and tied for ninth in save percentage (.917)… Finished fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy… Became the eighth rookie goalie to win 29-or-more games in a season… Second rookie goaltender in the NHL’s modern era (joining Tony Esposito in 1969-70, four shutouts) to record three 1-0 shutouts in a season… Finished second in the league in shootout save percentage (.792, 19-of-24 attempts stopped) among goalies facing at least 15 attempts, posting a 5-2 record… Posted an 18-1-2 record when receiving three or more goals in offensive support… Named February Rookie of the Month after going 9-2-1, tied for the most wins in the NHL for the month. His 1.72 goals-against average and .944 save percentage also ranked among the league leaders for the month… Made a career-high 46 saves on Feb. 10 vs. Detroit, including 25 in the first period – the second-highest single-period total by a netminder in franchise history… The eighth player in franchise history to appear in the YoungStars Game during 2009 All-Star Weekend… The first rookie netminder to record three shutouts in a single month (December) since Buffalo's Martin Biron in January 2000… Earned NHL First Star of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 7 after posting two shutouts and allowing only two goals on 83 shots in three starts. Went 3-0-0, and the neither of the two goals allowed were at even strength… Started six of Finland’s seven games at the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland… Voted one of Finland’s three best players of the tournament… Ranked third at the World Championships in goals-against average (1.93) and sixth in save percentage (.926).

2007-08: Recalled from Milwaukee (AHL) by Nashville on March 22, and appeared in his third career NHL game in the regular-season finale on April 4 at Chicago… Led the AHL in wins (36), appearances (65) and minutes played (3,840)… The victory total tied an Admirals franchise record… Also ranked second in the league in saves (1,563), shots against (1,721) and tied for fourth in shutouts (5)… Played for the PlanetUSA All-Stars at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic… Claimed the RBK XPulse Top Goaltender Award at the 2008 CCM All-Star Skills Competition… Won nine consecutive starts from March 1-April 11 with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

2006-07: Tied for sixth in the AHL in both goals-against average (2.34) and save percentage (.920)… Returned to action on Jan. 19 after undergoing preseason shoulder surgery.

2005-06: Posted a win in his first NHL start on Dec. 15 vs. Chicago… Recalled to Nashville twice in 2005-06 (Dec. 14-18 and April 3-May 1)… Backstopped Milwaukee (AHL) to the 2006 AHL Calder Cup Finals, earning 10 postseason wins while posting three playoff shutouts… Tied for second in the AHL in wins (30)… Tied for fourth in the AHL in appearances (51) and fifth in minutes (2,960)… Posted a 5-2 record in AHL shootouts.

CAREER NOTES/AMATEUR: Helped Karpat Oulu capture Finnish Elite League championships in 2004 and 2005. Formed Karpat’s goaltending tandem with current Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom for both of those teams… Appeared in eight games with Hokki Kajaani (Finland-2) in 2003-04.

BACKGROUND: Nickname “Peks”… Hobbies include tennis and reading… Favorites include Neil Young and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (musicians), Samurai Sushi (Nashville Restaurant) and Greece (vacation destination)… Most memorable hockey moments include winning a pair of Finnish League titles (2004-05) and playing in the Calder Cup Finals (2006)… His favorite player growing up was Patrick Roy… If he could pick two people to play a round of golf with it would be Tarja Halonen (President of Finland) and his dad… Has two sisters, including his twin.

TRANSACTIONS: June 27, 2004 – Nashville’s tenth choice, 258th overall (eighth round), in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.