Nashville vs Vancouver; Classic Goalie Duel in Canada
Pekka Rinne. Who has heard that name before this season? Not many of you. But the goalie for the Nashville Predators made himself known in Game 2, where he went into a classic goalie duel with Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks.
Rinne wouldn't leave until he emerged victorious. And he did.
After giving up a shorthanded goal in the second period, Rinne played the best game of his life, making saves here and there and everywhere to tie the series up at 1 with Vancouver. The game wasn't decided until 5:09 remained in the second overtime.
The game was a goalie duel early on until the Canucks finally broke through when Alex Burrows stole the puck from the Preds, passed it to Ryan Kesler, received a pass back from Kesler, and slapped the puck into the net. With the way Roberto Luongo was playing, you thought the game would be over.
But it wasn't. Early in the 3rd period, Nashville got a great chance. Jordin Tootoo had an amazing breakaway chance, but his wrist shot went deflected off Luongo and bounced harmlessly away. It looked like the Canucks were sure to take control of the series with a win.
Late in the game, Ryan Suter had the puck in the offensive zone. He shot the puck behind the net, and when he shot it from behind the net, no penalty was called, but something much better happened.
Somehow, the puck deflected off of the back of Luongo's skate, and it's ending destination was the net. The Predators had tied the game, and when a Vancouver pass that could have easily resulted in a goal wasn't capitalized on, the game went into OT.
Both teams got some great chances, with Mason Raymond almost scoring for Vancouver and Kevin Bleska getting amazingly close to a goal. Bleska received a pass and took an immediate slap shot, but Rinne made an amazing save.
In the second overtime, the Canucks had a chance off of a rebound, but Rinne rolled over on his back and saved the puck. It looked like the game would never end, but a young Predator finally preyed on Roberto Luongo.
Matt Hallschuk skated up to Luongo and fired a wrist shot from 22 feet away. The puck went top shelf, and Luongo couldn't stop it. The Predators had finally won!
Game 3 is Tuesday at 6 PM PT.
Rinne wouldn't leave until he emerged victorious. And he did.
After giving up a shorthanded goal in the second period, Rinne played the best game of his life, making saves here and there and everywhere to tie the series up at 1 with Vancouver. The game wasn't decided until 5:09 remained in the second overtime.
The game was a goalie duel early on until the Canucks finally broke through when Alex Burrows stole the puck from the Preds, passed it to Ryan Kesler, received a pass back from Kesler, and slapped the puck into the net. With the way Roberto Luongo was playing, you thought the game would be over.
But it wasn't. Early in the 3rd period, Nashville got a great chance. Jordin Tootoo had an amazing breakaway chance, but his wrist shot went deflected off Luongo and bounced harmlessly away. It looked like the Canucks were sure to take control of the series with a win.
Late in the game, Ryan Suter had the puck in the offensive zone. He shot the puck behind the net, and when he shot it from behind the net, no penalty was called, but something much better happened.
Somehow, the puck deflected off of the back of Luongo's skate, and it's ending destination was the net. The Predators had tied the game, and when a Vancouver pass that could have easily resulted in a goal wasn't capitalized on, the game went into OT.
Both teams got some great chances, with Mason Raymond almost scoring for Vancouver and Kevin Bleska getting amazingly close to a goal. Bleska received a pass and took an immediate slap shot, but Rinne made an amazing save.
In the second overtime, the Canucks had a chance off of a rebound, but Rinne rolled over on his back and saved the puck. It looked like the game would never end, but a young Predator finally preyed on Roberto Luongo.
Matt Hallschuk skated up to Luongo and fired a wrist shot from 22 feet away. The puck went top shelf, and Luongo couldn't stop it. The Predators had finally won!
Game 3 is Tuesday at 6 PM PT.
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