Preds' Pekka Rinne on verge of return

Facing one the NHL's toughest stretch schedules, the Nashville Predators could use all the help that they can get - particularly if it comes in the form of goaltender Pekka Rinne.

Rinne was granted clearance to kick his workout in practice into overdrive in hopes that he will be cleared to play at some point this week - something that seemed like a pipe dream or an exorbitant delusion just a month and a half ago.

“I feel like it’s coming,” Rinne said on Monday after receiving the good news from team docs. “I’m not too nervous anymore. I feel really optimistic about it that I’m going to get the go-ahead this week at some point, and that’s all I care about."

The Predators were playing their best hockey of the season heading into the break, and not even enduring a three-game winless streak can hide the fact that their offense had found it's groove, and the return of their number one goaltender could very well make all the difference between making the playoffs and going golfing instead.

“In practice, we’ve done everything we possibly can to kind of simulate game action and whatever situations you might face." Rinne said with his famous big grin. "The next step is playing games. Hopefully that’s really soon here.”

The Predators' really can't afford to bring him back too quickly, as he hasn't played since early October when he had surgery to remove a pocket of infection from a hip that he had surgically repaired over the summer - but no one can blame coach Barry Trotz for being excited over his rapid progress since being cleared to practice a few weeks ago.

"Whenever it happens, it happens" Trotz said in regard to a return date. "But it feels a lot better than it did a month ago or six weeks ago. He’s still got game action he’s got to get into. He’s got to get back into Pekka Rinne form."

“Even this summer, where he had the hip surgery and made it through training camp, he really didn’t probably play like himself until the seventh or eighth game of the year for him.” Trotz cautioned, then broke into his excited tone again. “You can see when he makes a save - that’s a Pekka Rinne save right there because it stopped a sure goal,” he said. “That excites you.”

Rinne can't wait for a packed arena to get excited to see him make a save, which may happen as early as this weekend.

http://www.sportsinjuryalert.com/2014/02/preds-pekka-rinne-on-verge-of-return.html