Seven years ago tonight, Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots en route to a 3-0 win over the Phoenix (yes, Phoenix) Coyotes.
It was Rinne’s 29th birthday, and was also the day he signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the team, the biggest contract in franchise history at that time.
Jonathon Blum, Matt Halischuk and Patric Hornqvist had the goals for the Predators on that night. None of them took the ice on Saturday night for the Predators as they took on the Boston Bruins.
Rinne did take the ice, however, and put up another shutout, a 1-0 effort this time, on his 36th birthday and the day he signed a two-year, $10 million extension, all but assuring he gets to finish his career in Nashville.
Call it the Pekka Rinne Hat Trick: birthday, contract and shutout.
“There must be something to it,” Rinne said of his second-ever birthday and payday shutout. “I should just sign one-year deals.”
The Finnish netminder stopped 26 shots en route to the victory for a Predators team that has gone through many highs and lows in the seven years since that night in Arizona.
Roman Josi had the lone goal on a wonderful drive through the offensive zone. The defensemen slipped towards the netfront with some nifty moves for a highlight-reel goal. Despite having a strong night, Rinne didn’t have to put a ton of work in. The Predators held the shot attempt advantage for two of the three periods and kept 31 of Boston’s 39 shot attempts out of high-danger areas, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Rinne’s effort in goal was also just his second start after missing the last five with an undisclosed injury. There hasn’t been much rust for Rinne, as he has beaten two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference in his two starts back from injury.
“I knew that I can take my time,” Rinne said. “Juuse [Saros] has been playing so well. I don’t think they really missed me, but I missed playing hockey. I missed these guys, but Juuse was taking care of the crease and he was playing awesome. It gave me time to really be 100% and also it comes down to mental preparation for sure.”
The rest of the team never lost a step either, as the Predators have now moved to 11-3-0 to start the season, good for the best record in the NHL.
“I know it’s always news when you lose Pekka to an injury,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “That’s news. You’re always looking to see how, in any scenario, how somebody coming in, a young goaltender in Juuse, whoever he might be, how they’re going to do. 
There were no thoughts that things wouldn’t just continue on with our team. We have 100% confidence in the way Juuse plays the game. We’re glad Peks is back, and you saw why tonight. He played terrific, but we’re in a good situation with our goaltending.”
Thanks to another all-around solid performance by the Predators and their franchise netminder, Rinne will be able to celebrate his birthday and payday on a high note for the second time in his career. After he inked his new deal this morning ahead of the game, he was able to take a moment to celebrate.
“Birthday and a contract,” he said. “It was dealt with at the same time. It was awesome. Guys sang Happy Birthday to me with a little cake action. It was great.”
According to one of the teammates who has been with him the longest, Ryan Ellis, Rinne earned every bite of that “cake action.”
“I mean, he’s done it all for so long,” Ellis said. “At times, he’s gotten lost in the shuffle in a quieter market here in Nashville. I think just as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten better and better. He’s a terrific teammate, terrific person and it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
The Predators hit the road over the next two weeks with the first stop in Colorado for a 2018 Stanley Cup Playoff rematch with the Avalanche on Wednesday.
