The Nashville Predators were well represented at the 2014 IIHF World Championships this year. Of the 10 Preds who participated, half medaled and three others led their clubs in scoring.
Goaltender Pekka Rinne and prospects Miikka Salomaki and Juuse Saros won silver due to their 5-2 loss to Russia Sunday afternoon. Calle Jarnkrok and Mattias Ekholm each won bronze as part of Team Sweden.
Even those Predators players who didn’t win a medal performed well. Craig Smith and Seth Jones were each named one of Team USA’s top three players for the tournament and Ryan Ellis (Canada), Roman Josi (Switzerland), Jones and Ekholm all led their respective teams in scoring from the blueline.
The 19-year old Jones also led all defenseman in the tournament in scoring (11 points) and was one of just three NHL players who finished the tournament with more than 10 points (Dallas’ Antoine Roussel and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin).
Rinne finished the gold medal game with 34 saves and Salomaki took three penalties (16 PIM) as Finland received their first silver since 2007.