Editor's note: Welcome to another installment of "Admirals Playoff Diary," OnMilwaukee.com's exclusive look at the Milwaukee Admrials as they progress through the American Hockey League playoffs in search of their second title in three years. The Admirals begin the Calder Cup Championship Series Friday night at the Bradley Center.
This installment features goaltender Pekka Rinne.
WE ARE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE we are just playing awesome right now. We are also scoring quite a bit; every chance we have it feels like we will score. Our best players are playing like our best players, and while that sounds simple, it is one of the big keys to our success.
Even when I give up four goals we are able to win, so it gives me a lot of confidence. And when we are not scoring, we are defending well, which is a good combination. I think we have scored seven short-handed goals. I've never seen anything like that. When our guys are on the ice and they steal the puck, they're going right away and trying to score. It's unbelievable.
It has been my dream to play in the NHL, so Nashville was fantastic. With all the defenses, traveling on the charter plane, everything is a lot bigger. Practicing with Kimmo Timonen was really special because he is a great player and he is from Finland. I remember watching him when I was little. He's always been a great player, so it is a neat feeling to play with him and Paul Kariya and all the other guys. Growing up in Finland, the NHL seemed so far away, so it is was great to be there.
It was a big thrill for me having my two sisters come from Finland to watch me play. I'm the only Finnish guy here, so it is nice to have some Finnish company. The only other time I had Finnish company was Kimmo Timonen in Nashville, which was nice. My girlfriend visited twice and my sisters once, and they were here for 20 days.
They really liked it here. Milwaukee is very down-to-earth, easy-going and easy to fit in. It was also good for them because they speak English, so they were able to function without me. We went to see Coldplay and the museum and I showed them around. We didn't do too much because there were a lot of games, but it was nice to relax and just be with them.
My parents weren't able to come over because my father had a stroke a few years ago. He is doing well, but we don't want to take the risk because it is 14 hours from Finland. But they are still excited, they saw my first NHL game on DVD and I am always sending game tapes and pictures. There is an eight hour time difference, but they are always calling me and checking the game scores on the internet to keep up. Hopefully, they can come over next season. They don't speak English, but it would be a neat experience for them to come here.
I'll go back to Finland for the summer and just relax for a week or two with my parents and family. I'll try to catch up with my buddies. A few of them are getting married so I will go to the weddings. I don't have too many plans, because I only get to be in Finland for a couple of months, so I just want to relax and stay with my family. I'll probably go to the cottage and go fishing, I love fishing. I have to work out, so I will practice with my old team and catch up with them.
