In Calgary Friday night, the Nashville Predators defeated the Flames, 5-3 but Pekka Rinne left the game with five minutes left on the clock due to an injury.
A collision between Rinne and a skater after the Flames had tied the game at 3-3 seemed to have been the cause of the injury.
Rinne remained in the game but left after a few minutes of playing time.
“There’s a lot of confidence in both goaltenders but that’s a tough situation,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “That’s the life of a goaltender. When you aren’t starting you have to be ready at any moment. He came in and did his job really well.”
The nature of the injury was unknown after the game.
“I can’t comment on anything because I don’t know anything yet,” Laviolette said.
Juuse Saros made nine saves in the relief to get the win.
Kevin Fiala, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Craig Smith, and Zac Rinaldo scored forthe Predators.
“We’re really confident,” Rinaldo said. “We have that swagger. We have attitude every single game. We bring speed every single game. But the thing about this group is we don’t get comfortable. We know every game is going to be a hard-working game. We prepare for hard work every game. Confidence, but not comfortable.”
Sam Bennett, Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk struck for the Flames.
“It was a tough game, 3-3 there, and they got a chance to score and that was the difference,” Calgary captain Mark Giordano said.
[WATCH: All Predators vs. Flames highlights]
Mike Smith made 26 saves in the loss.
“Every time it looked like we were going to take a step and get some momentum, we gave it back,” Flames head coach Bill Peters said.
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