When a team launches 67 shots on goal in a game, it would typically expect to win. Apparently, when Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros is in goal, that’s not always the way things work out.
That’s right, the Carolina Hurricanes fired 67 shots at Saros on Thursday night, only to see the Preds’ All-Star netminder turn 64 of them away.
Saros saw shots early and often, as the Hurricanes hit him with 18 shots in the first period, 21 in the second, and 28 in the third. Early in the game, it was working for Carolina, as the Predators trailed 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2.
However, Saros slammed the door shut and fended off every shot he faced in the final 30 minutes of the game. Thanks to his heroics, the Predators were able to pick up a 5-3 win, improving their record to 17-14-6. Nashville is 5-1-2 in its last seven games.
Juuse Saros continues to be elite for the Predators.
On the season, Saros owns a 14-10-5 record, a 2.77 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage.
All things considered, Saros’s numbers are solid, as the Predators team playing in front of him has not been outstanding this season. Nashville has surrendered more shots per game than most other NHL teams. He has earned a place on the 2023 Central Division All-Star team for his efforts.
The 64 saves that he made against the Hurricanes is a Predators franchise record. Looking at his performance from a league-wide standpoint, he has become one of four goaltenders ever to record at least 64 saves in a regular season game.
NHL Public Relations expanded on those stats in a Twitter post on Thursday night.
Juuse Saros, who will represent the @PredsNHL at the 2023 #NHLAllStar Weekend, made a franchise-record 64 saves to help Nashville snap Carolina's home winning streak at eight games.#NHLStats: https://t.co/1Dz1NMn0gj pic.twitter.com/kIxAdTXMbO
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 6, 2023
The 27-year-old spent several seasons playing behind/splitting time with the legendary Pekka Rinne but has begun to establish himself as an elite NHL goaltender.
As the Predators sit several points outside of the Western Conference playoff picture, there are plenty of questions surrounding the team’s path forward. Saros, however, has firmly established himself as a necessary part of a successful future in Nashville.
With performances like his 64-save outing, Saros may be able to guide the Predators to the postseason no matter what his teammates do in front of him.