Here's something you don't hear every day: Pekka Rinne needs to play better.

The Nashville Predators goalie, normally a brick wall between the pipes, needs to improve on his Game 2 showing if the Preds want to retake the lead in the Western Conference Final.

Rinne has arguably been Nashville's best player in the playoffs and is one of the main reasons why Nashville is among the final four.

His playoff numbers are downright nasty - .942 save percentage, 1.62 goals against - but he was uncharacteristically shaky, at best, in Game 2, allowing more goals than he did during the entire first round. The backbone of Peter Laviolette's group looked uncomfortable while allowing four goals on 26 shots.

Nick Ritchie's game-winner was particularly ugly.

The good news for Preds fans is that Rinne has proven this postseason he has a short memory, and history shows he's likely to regain his confidence in time for Tuesday's Game 3.

Following his previous two defeats in these playoffs, the former eighth-round pick has been solid, winning twice while allowing a combined three goals.

Nashville's defensive core is solid, the forwards are speedy and skilled, but the man in the crease is the glue holding Nashville together.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.