NHL - Game Notes

Nashville Predators

Head Coach

Barry Trotz
Notes: * Coached his 750th NHL game on Nov. 4, 2008, making him the 31st coach in NHL history to attain the mark, and only the 10th bench boss to coach 750 games with a single team. * Passed Punch Imlach (770, Toronto) for ninth on the games coached with a single franchise list on Dec. 23 at Florida. * One of just four NHL coaches to lead their teams to four consecutive playoff appearances (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008). * Has led the Predators to 162 regular-season victories since the start of the 2005-06 season, among the best in the league. Has also helped the franchise score 95 home wins since the start of the 2005-06 season, which ranks in the Top Five in the NHL. * Is one of just 18 coaches to win 300 games with a single team. * Has the second-longest current NHL coaching tenure; the only NHL coach who has been with their club longer is Lindy Ruff (Buffalo). * Currently has the second-most wins (345) among active coaches with their current team. Only Ruff has more. On Jan. 13 at Toronto, he passed Bryan Murray (Washington, 343) for ninth on the wins with a single franchise list. * Has worked alongside Predators GM David Poile, previously with the Washington Capitals organization, since 1987-88 (21 seasons). * Served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2002 and 2003 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal in 2003. * Became the Predators' first head coach on Aug. 6, 1997. * Led the Portland Pirates (AHL) to the Calder Cup Championship and was named AHL Coach of the Year following the 1994-95 season.

Barry Trotz

Notes:
* Coached his 750th NHL game on Nov. 4, 2008, making him the 31st coach in NHL history to attain the mark, and only the 10th bench boss to coach 750 games with a single team.
* Passed Punch Imlach (770, Toronto) for ninth on the games coached with a single franchise list on Dec. 23 at Florida.
* One of just four NHL coaches to lead their teams to four consecutive playoff appearances (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008).
* Has led the Predators to 162 regular-season victories since the start of the 2005-06 season, among the best in the league. Has also helped the franchise score 95 home wins since the start of the 2005-06 season, which ranks in the Top Five in the NHL.

* Is one of just 18 coaches to win 300 games with a single team.
* Has the second-longest current NHL coaching tenure; the only NHL coach who has been with their club longer is Lindy Ruff (Buffalo).
* Currently has the second-most wins (345) among active coaches with their current team. Only Ruff has more. On Jan. 13 at Toronto, he passed Bryan Murray (Washington, 343) for ninth on the wins with a single franchise list.

* Has worked alongside Predators GM David Poile, previously with the Washington Capitals organization, since 1987-88 (21 seasons).
* Served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2002 and 2003 IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal in 2003.
* Became the Predators' first head coach on Aug. 6, 1997.
* Led the Portland Pirates (AHL) to the Calder Cup Championship and was named AHL Coach of the Year following the 1994-95 season.

Goaltenders

35 Pekka Rinne G
(PECK-ah REEN-hay)

6'5'', 206 11/03/1982 ( 26 ), Kempele, FIN

First NHL / First NSH Season

Last Win: JAN 28, 2009 @ VANCOUVER (1)

Last Shutout: JAN 13, 2009 @ TORONTO (5)

How Acquired: Nashville's 10th choice, 258th overall (eighth round), in 2004 Entry Draft.

Notes:
* Has a 2.15 goals-against average and .924 save percentage with four shutouts in 18 appearances since Dec. 1.
* Has appeared in 14 of the club's last 17 games.
* Ranked among the league leaders in shutouts (4).

* Gave up two goals or less in 11-of-13 appearances from Dec. 1-Jan. 13.
* Notched his fourth shutout in a 13-start span Jan. 13 at Toronto by turning aside all 17 shots he faced.
* Earned the win in a relief appearance on Jan. 8, the first time this season a Nashville goalie who started the game on the bench earned a victory.

* Became the seventh Predator to appear in a YoungStars Game during 2009 All-Star Weekend in Montreal.
* Led the Rookie team to a 9-5 victory over the Sophomores, stopping 19 shots, including 12-of-13 in the third period.

* Is the first rookie netminder to record three shutouts in a single month (December) since Buffalo's Martin Biron in January 2000.
* Posted his third shutout in a five-start span with a 23-save effort against the NY Islanders on Dec. 20.
* Won his first six decisions of the season before finally suffering a defeat on Dec. 8 at St. Louis. The six straight wins tied for the second-best winning streak in franchise history.

* Earned NHL First Star of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 7 after posting two shutouts and only two goals on 83 shots in three starts. Went 3-0-0, and the neither of the two goals allowed were at even strength.
* Posted his first career shutout, and the 50th shutout in franchise history with a 30-save effort on Dec. 1 at Buffalo. He joined Mike Dunham, Tomas Vokoun, Chris Mason and Dan Ellis as the only netminders to record a white wash in a Predators uniform.
* Collected his first win of the season, and first since Dec. 15, 2005 vs. Chicago, on Oct. 30 vs. Edmonton. It was his second career win .

	GPI	Min	W	L	T	OT	SO	GA	GAA	Saves	Sv %
Season	23	1227	11	8	-	0	4	49	2.40	522	0.914
Career	26	1319	12	9	0	0	4	53	2.41	566	0.914

39 Dan Ellis G
(DAN EH-lihs)

6'0'', 188 06/19/1980 ( 28 ), Saskatoon, SK, CAN

Second NHL / Second NSH Season

Last Win: DEC 26, 2008 vs DETROIT (5)

Last Shutout: DEC 13, 2008 vs DALLAS (7)

How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on July 5, 2007.

Notes:
* Posted a 1.98 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in the month of December
* Notched two shutouts in a five-game span from Nov. 25-Dec.13, tying him with Mike Dunham for third on the franchise’s all-time shutouts list (8)

* Named the NHL's Third Star of the Week for the period ending Nov. 16 after going 3-0-0 at San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles Nov. 11-15. Stopped 119 of 126 shots during that span, including a franchise-record 54 saves in a 4-3 overtime win at San Jose on Nov. 11.
* Led the league in save percentage in 2007-08 (.924).

Career notes
OT Record: 8-5, Shootouts: 3-5, 10-20 shots stopped, .500 Sv.%

	GPI	Min	W	L	T	OT	SO	GA	GAA	Saves	Sv %
Season	30	1665	10	16	3	3	2	81	2.92	722	0.899
Career	75	3954	34	26	0	6	8	171	2.59	1807	0.914