If Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz described his players after their Game 1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks by calling them "passengers", then Pekka Rinne is the "bus driver" after his Game 2 performance.
The Vezina Trophy nominee was spectacular in making 32 saves as the Predators evened the series with a 2-1 win in double overtime thanks to a snipe by Matt Halischuk. Rinne's biggest save of the night also kept Nashville's hope alive.
After Ryan Suter's bank shot went in off of Roberto Luongo's pads with 1:07 left in regulation to force overtime, Rinne robbed Kevin Bieksa with a top candidate for "Save of the Playoffs":
Nashville took the harsh words of their coach after Game 1 to heart and put forth a much more inspired effort in Game 2 blistering Luongo with 46 shots, winning 57-percent of draws and continually threatening the Canucks with scoring opportunities.
We were wondering when Rinne would return to form after a mediocre first-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. Through two games, it's obvious Rinne's play is back and that will truly determine Nashville's fate in this series.