During certain stretches of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs - especially in trying to slow the Winnipeg Jets - Pekka Rinne’s had some trouble.
He’s not alone, either, as some tough postseason matchups haven’t been kind to several goalies’ numbers, especially in this Jets - Nashville Predators showdown.
Sometimes a goalie needs to be like an NFL cornerback in forgetting a goal like they would put getting burned for a touchdown out of their minds. Rinne’s made some big saves at times during this series, but he seemed to conjure special magic during the first period of Game 4.
[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]
Check out his remarkable, Hasek-like desperation stick save in the video above this post’s headline. If you prefer, you can also check it in GIF form here:
stick save and a BEAUT pic.twitter.com/5rCx9AfVQC
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 4, 2018
The Predators once again begin a road game against the Jets with a lead through the first 20 minutes. In Game 3, they were up 3-0. This time around, they’re merely up 1-0 in Game 4, but they might prefer the more contained pace. Or at least they might spin it that way with the luxury of hindsight.
Check out the rest of Game 4 on NBCSN and stream it live here.
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.