Smashville Scope: January 13

It's been quite a few days to be a goaltender for the Nashville Predators.
We all know of Pekka Rinne's first-career goal, one of just 12 goaltenders in NHL history to be credited with putting the puck in the opposition's net. Perhaps even more impressive is out of those 12, Rinne is one of only seven netminders to actually shoot it themselves. (The others occurred with a team accidentally putting the puck in their own empty net on a delayed penalty or in extra attacker situations, and the respective goaltenders were the last to touch the puck.)
Three days later in Winnipeg, Juuse Saros posted his first shutout of the season to blank the Jets, 1-0, and give the Predators a gritty road win against a divisional rival.

The Jets pulled their netminder late in the game, but the opportunity never presented itself for Saros to take a shot at the empty cage.
"Disappointing," Saros joked after the win.
But all kidding aside, Rinne's goaltending partner was thrilled to see his friend accomplish something most at their position can only imagine.
"It's really cool," Saros said of Rinne's goal. "Every goalie dreams about that, and it's nice to see that go in, especially since he's been really close a couple times.
Rinne hasn't been shy about wanting to score a goal. He's talked about it many times, and he and Saros can often be seen passing the puck with each other the length of the ice in practice, if not trying to shoot it straight into the net on the other side of the rink.
Clearly, practice makes perfect.

"You don't get those chances that often, but we practice it sometimes, and of course he shoots it really well," Saros said. "It's fun to try sometimes in the practice, but it's a different situation when there's guys coming in and giving pressure. It's a different thing in a game."
After trying many times before, Rinne was able to pull it off, a feat that made a regular-season game feel like so much more. As Rinne stated following the game, he simply raised his arms in the air and, "tried to act as cool as he could."
The reaction on the Preds bench was just as jubilant, and all Saros could do was smile.
"It's one of a kind," Saros said. "It's kind of like one of those reactions when you win a playoff series. It's special."

All The Goalie Goals:

Ron Hextall has scored twice, and Martin Brodeur has been credited with three, but Rinne is now part of a very exclusive club.
Plus, former Preds goaltender turned broadcaster Chris Mason also has a tally to his name, making the Predators the only franchise in NHL history with two different netminders to score a goal.
Here now, enjoy all seven goalie goals that have been shot into the net...

... and

the League has ever seen.

Tomasino Named OHL Player of the Week:

Much like the NHL team that selected him in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Philip Tomasino had quite a week.
In the midst of being traded from the Niagara IceDogs to the Oshawa Generals at the Ontario Hockey League's trade deadline, the Predators prospect was named the OHL 'On the Run' Player of the Week. Tomasino led the OHL with 10 points, including six goals, over just three games.

The forward has earned the honor for the second time this season, and he did not disappoint in his debut as a General on Thursday. Tomasino tallied two goals and added three assists to help his new club to a 6-3 victory over fellow Preds prospect Egor Afanasyev and the Windsor Spitfires. Tomasino then added two more goals on Friday night as Oshawa defeated Sarnia, 4-3. The forward is currently riding a 10-game point streak overall.
And, just to confirm, the deal in the OHL does not affect his NHL status. He is still very much a member of the Predators organization, and with outings like he had as of late, that is very good news for the future.

Saturday Night White Out:

The jerseys worn by the Predators at the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic are too perfect to be sported just once. Now, the Smashville faithful will be able to see them on display at 501 Broadway.
The Preds will don their Winter Classic uniforms on Saturday night when the Buffalo Sabres come to town and the White Out returns to Bridgestone Arena.
Click here for tickets
- you won't want to miss it.

Admirals Update:

After a sluggish start to 2020, the Admirals are back to their winning ways with a recent two-game sweep over the Rockford IceHogs.
Rem Pitlick and Tommy Novak scored in a 2-0 victory last Friday, with Troy Grosenick stopping all 24 shots he faced. Milwaukee followed that up with a 2-1 triumph in overtime on Saturday. Pitlick scored again in regulation, and Frederick Gaudreau tallied just 36 seconds into overtime, as Connor Ingram collected the win between the pipes.
Daniel Carr continues to lead the Admirals with 14 goals and 31 points, followed by Cole Schneider with 30 points and then Pitlick, who has 13 goals and 23 points. Grosenick and Ingram own identical .928 save percentages as they keep up their stellar play in net.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save(s) of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

John Hynes on coaching in Nashville:
"The Nashville job is special. The fan base here is unbelievable. When you come in as an opposing team, you really know that it's going to be an energized building. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the fan support for the players and the team and the community is second to none in the NHL. Even as a road team, it's an extremely exciting building to play in. It's a difficult building to play in, so I can only imagine what it's like when you have the whole building on your side. I'm certainly excited for that."

Shot of the Week:

…and there's more where that came from.
Preds Introduce Head Coach John Hynes Photo Gallery
Bruins vs. Preds Photo Gallery
Preds at Blackhawks Photo Gallery
Preds at Jets Photo Gallery

The Week Ahead:

Tuesday at Edmonton Oilers, 8 p.m. CT
TV:Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Thursday vs. Anaheim Ducks, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Buy Tickets
Saturday vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. CT
TV:Fox Sports Tennessee Radio:102.5 The Game
Buy Tickets

Predators Official Podcast:

The Preds Official Podcast begins with all the Pekka Rinne goalie goal coverage you could ever want. Next, the show takes a deep dive into the end of Peter Laviolette's tenure and the naming of John Hynes as Predators head coach. Thomas Willis and Brooks Bratten explain the systematic and identity changes fans should expect from the team's new coach.

Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:

Looking for more than just hockey at the home of the Preds? Here's what's coming to Bridgestone Arena.
Coming Soon:
Halsey - July 24, 2020.
Tickets on sale Friday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. CT.
Matchbox Twenty - Aug. 5, 2020.
Tickets on sale Friday, Jan. 17 at 12 p.m. CT.

Week in Review:

Recap: Turris Scores Lone Goal as Saros, Preds Shut Out Jets
Allen: Getting to Know Preds Head Coach John Hynes
From Goalie to Goalie: Mason Thrilled for Rinne on First NHL Goal
Recap: Rinne Scores First NHL Goal as Preds Collect First Win Under Hynes
Preds Learn from Hynes During First Practice as Head Coach
Hynes Eager to Guide Preds, Help Team Realize Full Potential
Preds Players Ready to Turn Season Around Under Hynes
Predators Acquire Forward Michael McCarron from Montreal
Predators Name John Hynes Head Coach