from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune,

Want to know how important goaltending is? Last season, Rinne — Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom’s former backup in Finland — missed almost the entire season because of complications following hip surgery. The Predators not only missed the playoffs, but they had the fifth-worst save percentage (.902) in the NHL and allowed the eighth-most goals per game (2.84). Although he is injured right now, Rinne has been in net for 29 of Nashville’s 30 victories this season, recording a 1.96 goals-against average and .931 save percentage.

There’s an adage credited to former coach Gene Ubriaco that in hockey, goaltending is 50 percent of the game — unless it’s bad goaltending. Then it’s 100 percent.

It doesn’t matter how much talent you think you have up and down your roster, if you don’t get the goaltending, nothing else matters.

As much confidence as Rinne gives the Predators — as Carey Price gives the Montreal Canadiens, as Jonathan Quick gives the Los Angeles Kings — if you don’t have trust in your goalies, you have one foot in the loss column before the game even starts.

When you don’t have to worry about your goaltending, you just play.

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