Dan Ellis Daniel Ellis ( born June 19 , 1980 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Playing career . Minors . The Dallas Stars drafted Ellis in the second round , 60th overall , of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft . Ellis then spent three seasons with the University of Nebraska , posting a cumulative record of 53 wins , 50 losses , and 12 ties . For the 2003 – 2004 season , Ellis split time between the Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) and Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL , finishing the season with the Steelheads . In Idaho , Ellis would have great success , leading the team to a Kelly Cup Championship win and nabbing the 2004 Playoff MVP award with a record of 13 – 3 and a 1 . 86 goals - against average . For the 2005 – 06 AHL season , Ellis spent his time exclusively with the Iowa Stars . He split playing time with fellow goalie Mike Smith , but ultimately lost the job as the season came to a close . He finished the season with a record of 16 wins , 13 losses and 1 tie . Dallas Stars . Ellis made his NHL debut on February 8 , 2004 against the Los Angeles Kings . Ellis made 25 saves en route to his first career win as Dallas defeated Los Angeles 4 - 3 . Nashville Predators . In 2007 , Ellis signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators . Due to sub - standard play from starting goalie Chris Mason , Ellis took over the starting goaltender duties for the Predators for the 2007 – 08 NHL season . On October 25 , 2007 , in only his second career start , his first with the Predators - who signed him as a free agent on July 5 , 2007 - he won 3 – 0 against the Atlanta Thrashers , making 20 saves en route to his first NHL shutout . On November 1 , 2007 , he posted another shutout against the Vancouver Canucks for his fourth win of the season . He played very well down the stretch , posting two shutouts in the final few games and leading the Predators to the playoffs . He surprisingly posted impressive statistics during the 2007 – 2008 season , being among the top goaltenders in save percentage ( 1st ) , shutouts ( T - 3rd ) , and GAA ( 12th ) . He also received national coverage for his excessive weight loss during games , receiving intravenous fluids after games , and for his impressive shutout streak of 233 : 39 over the course of 4 games . He earned the nickname " snowstorm " in the spring of 2008 when the poor play of Ellis and teammate Chris Mason cause the team to call - up minor league goalie Pekka Rinne . However , Rinne was delayed from joining the team due to a snowstorm and Ellis was given the start in the subsequent game against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 22 , 2008 . He held the Blackhawks to one goal on 38 shots and lead the Predators to a 2 – 1 shootout victory . This victory earned him the starting job for the team , lasting into the 2008 playoffs . He was the starting goalie for Nashville in their 2008 first round series against the number one seeded Detroit Red Wings . Ellis stopped 71 of 78 shots he faced in the first two games , both losses . Back home at Nashville for games three and four , he proceeded to stop 62 of 67 shots as the Predators won both games at home to tie the series at 2 . Game 5 was Ellis ' best game of the series as he made 52 saves in a 2 – 1 overtime loss . The Red Wings closed out the series in Game 6 at Nashville with a 3 – 0 win . Ellis was victimized by Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidström ' s skipping shot from behind center ice for the games first goal , which turned out to be the winner . At the conclusion of the season , Ellis was named winner of the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award for having the best save percentage in the NHL . On June 19 , 2008 Ellis was re - signed to a two year , $ 3 . 5 million contract by the Predators . During the 2008 - 09 Season , Ellis wasn ' t as sharp as the previous season , recording only 11 wins compared to his 23 wins of the previous season . Because of this , Pekka Rinne , who was Nashville ' s backup goaltender at the start of the season , took over the starting job . He was born in Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , but was raised in Orangeville , Ontario .