"It's not only about us, it's also about the other team," Rinne said. "I thought that Montreal was skating really good tonight. I'm sure they wanted to play for Shea and it showed. They were more desperate. We've been struggling with consistency. Consistency is one of the things that we're still looking for."
"I wouldn't say it's a step back," defenseman Ryan Ellis said of the loss after a 4-0 win on Friday in St. Louis. "Obviously, they outshot us, but we've been in a lot of close games lately. We seem to be in a lot of overtimes in the last 10 games. We have to find a way to win those games, because at the end of the day, it's those extra points that are going to get you further up the table."
Welcome Back:
Video: The Preds honor former captain Shea Weber
The Smashville faithful gave the warmest of welcomes to former captain Shea Weber, who was skating on Bridgestone Arena ice for the first time since being traded in June.
A loud cheer that erupted as Weber was announced as one of the game's starters fed into an emotional video tribute at the first television timeout of the game, accompanied by a lengthy standing ovation from the Nashville crowd.
"It's very cool," Rinne said of the tribute. "He was such a big part of this organization and the community. It was a nice job by the organization. He's very well respected here, and among the fans. It was cool to see that, and the reaction from the fans."
Notes:
The Preds have earned at least one point in each of their last 10 games against the Canadiens.
Prior to Tuesday's game, Preds defenseman P.K. Subban
was named captain
of the 2017 Central Division NHL All-Star Team. Subban is the first Predators player to ever be named captain of an NHL All-Star Team.
The Preds will head to the Sunshine State for a back-to-back set beginning Thursday night in Tampa Bay before facing the Florida Panthers on Friday night. Nashville will conclude the three-game trip on Sunday evening in Chicago.