The 35-year-old goalie was injured during a 5-3 win at the Calgary Flames on Friday. Rinne collided with teammate Kevin Fiala when Flames forward Sam Bennett tied the game 3-3 at 2:20 of the third period. Rinne remained in the game but left at 5:09 and was replaced by Juuse Saros.
Rinne, who is 3-1-0 with a 2.11 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in five games this season, and won the Vezina Trophy voted as the NHL's top goalie last season, will miss at least the next three games.
"We never want to see that happen to him. He's such a big part of our team and been playing really well to start the year here, following up from last year," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "But this is part of the game and it happens to all teams, so it's happening to us right now."
Saros made nine saves in relief Friday and got the win. He is 3-0-0 with a 2.22 GAA and .917 save percentage this season.
"On the one hand, we just lost the best goalie in the League," forward Filip Forsberg said. "On the other, we know Juuse is ready for this opportunity, he's one of the League's best as well. ... He would definitely be a starter if he wasn't behind the Vezina Trophy winner. ... You could call him the best backup goalie in the League or you can call him one of the best goalies in the League. He can definitely be a starter on any other team if he wasn't behind a Vezina Trophy winner. We're very comfortable playing with him, and nothing changes."
It is unclear how long Rinne will be out.
"We've seen things that look really big be nothing and we've seen nothing plays be something," Forsberg said. "But we can't really be focused on that, we're just excited to rally behind Juuse and we're really confident with him as well."
Goalie Troy Grosenick from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League will replace Miroslav Svoboda when the Predators return home next week. They host the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
"We'll have to deal with it tonight and until we get back," Laviolette said. "But there's a lot of confidence in [Saros] and the way he plays the game and a great opportunity for him. ... [Saros] has given us no reason to think he can't handle this. He's been outstanding the last few years every opportunity he got. ... That's what he's done since he's been here and that's why there's a lot of confidence from the players that play in front of him."
