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Preds coach goes back to Hutton after lousy showing

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For better or worse, it seems like the Nashville Predators are sticking with Carter Hutton until Pekka Rinne shakes off his frightening hip infection. Head coach Barry Trotz decided to give him the vote of confidence by starting him on Sunday despite the fact that he only lasted about eight and a half minutes against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.

Trotz explained his decision-making to the Tennessean.

“I think you have to show confidence if they’re able to rebound,” Trotz said. “But I think it falls on the player too … can you rebound?”

It’s easy to throw a goalie under the bus when an opposing team gains an early lead, especially when the numbers are as ugly as Hutton’s have been lately. The most glaring numbers come from last night - three goals allowed on eight shots before he was yanked - but his overall numbers aren’t great, either.

Even so, Trotz lauded his character in a “trying circumstance.”

Decide for yourself if Hutton, 27, was mostly to blame for the goals he allowed last night:

He’ll get a chance to redeem himself - and show that he can rebound - against the New Jersey Devils tonight.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins