Predators goalie Pekka Rinne leaves game after collision during third period

Paul Skrbina | The Tennessean

CALGARY, Alberta -- Predators goalie Pekka Rinne exited the ice and walked to the locker room during the third period of Friday's 5-3 victory against the Flames, not long after colliding with Kevin Fiala.

The two got tangled up during Sam Bennett's game-tying goal 2 minutes, 20 seconds into the period.

Rinne stayed in the game for another 2:43 and stopped a couple of shots before he was pulled from the game and replaced by Juuse Saros.

Predator coach Peter Laviolette said after the game he didn't have an update on his goalie, but added it wasn't the team's choice for him to exit, leaving the possibility that Rinne left due to the league's concussion protocol.

"We didn't pull him, so something was wrong," Laviolette said.

Predators goalie Juuse Saros on Pekka Rinne: Hope he's OK Predators backup goalie Juuse Saros replaced Pekka Rinne, who was pulled from Friday's game after colliding with Kevin Fiala

Saros, who likely would have started the second of the team's back-to-back Saturday against the Oilers, stopped all nine shots he faced in the 14:51 he was on the ice.

Zac Rinaldo scored the game-winner shortly after Rinne left. It was his first goal of the season and helped the Predators improve to 6-1 with their fourth consecutive victory.

Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

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