Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne could be out longer than initially believed as he recovers from what is reportedly an E. Coli infection in his hip, according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos on Tuesday night.

Kypreos reports that infection could sideline Rinne for 6-8 weeks (which would take him until around Christmas) instead of the four weeks he was initially expected to miss.

Rinne last appeared in a game for the Predators on Oct. 22 and underwent a hip scope two days later, a procedure that was accompanied by the one month recovery timeline as he recovered from what the team called "a spontaneous bacterial infection."

He had previously undergone arthroscopic hip surgery during the offseason.

In nine games this season Rinne has .917 save percentage to go with a 4-4-1 record.

In his absence the Predators have been relying on youngsters Carter Hutton and Magnus Hellberg in net.

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