As the Oct. 4 season opener draws near, Predators Coach Barry Trotz and his staff still have to answer one of their most significant roster questions: Who will be the No. 2 goalie behind new starter Chris Mason? Neither candidate really seems to have a big edge at this point. Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne have had strong preseasons, and with varying experience and skill sets, each player is an alluring option. "Very difficult," Trotz said. " ? They are sort of neck and neck here." Ellis, a 6-foot, 185-pound free-agent addition, is 0-1 with a .90 goals-against average and a .964 save percentage. Rinne, a 2004 draft pick of the Predators, is 1-0 with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.