Rinne trying to get recharged for Predators during pause

Pekka Rinne is making the best of the NHL season being paused, hoping to reset and rebound from a subpar regular season if play resumes.

The Nashville Predators goalie is 18-14-4 with three shutouts in 36 games (35 starts), his 3.17 goals-against average and .895 save percentage each his worst since he became an NHL regular in 2008-09, when he was fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL rookie of the year. Two seasons removed from being voted the Vezina Trophy winner as the best goalie in the NHL, Rinne has shared time with Juuse Saros, who is 17-12-4 with a 2.70 GAA, .914 save percentage and four shutouts in 40 games (34 starts).

"I realize the fact that I haven't had the strongest season so far, but at the same time I try to use this time to my advantage," Rinne said Monday. "I used the first couple of weeks to wind down and reflect back on the season and then start preparing again, start preparing to be ready this season. If that's not happening, I feel like it's a head start for next season and training for next season.

"No matter what happens, I try to keep a positive mindset. I try to take the best out of it. I do think about that and I do wish that I can get back on the ice hopefully sooner than later."

The season has been paused since March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, and there is no timetable for when it might resume. Should the season continue, and if the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it could be the 37-year-old's final opportunity to win his first Stanley Cup championship. Nashville (35-26-8) is tied with the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild card from the Western Conference and 16-11-1 in 28 games since John Hynes replaced Peter Laviolette as coach Jan. 7. Rinne and the Predators reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

"It is my goal, it's our goal," Rinne said. "I'm still hopeful. I'm still positive that we're going to get back playing and we have a chance to compete again. For sure, right now, we're missing out, but everybody in the League, they're in the same situation. Everybody is dealing with it differently but we're all in it together. Hopefully soon, we have a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup."

Rinne, chosen by the Predators in the eighth round (No. 258) of the 2004 NHL Draft, leads Nashville goalies in games played (659), wins (359), GAA (2.42) and shutouts (58) since it entered the NHL in 1998. He said he hasn't thought about what may happen if he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 season, the last of a two-year, $10 million contract (average annual value of $5 million). His hopes for another shot at the Cup remain high, and if the Predators get that chance, he said he won't need much time to prepare.

"It helps that we've already played a lot of hockey," Rinne said. "We've been on the ice all season long. Now it's a five-week break. I'm sure everybody has a different type of setup at home. I feel like it would be beneficial for guys if we could get together and have some kind of, at least a couple of weeks as a team, and maybe before that a week as a smaller group and go from there.

"I think it's going to pick up fairly quick if we get to that point. Kind of realizing the situation and time frame we have, I think you have to mentally prepare for a quick start."