Saros Stands Firm as Predators Topple the East's Best
Carolina carried the play in Nashville and still left with a 4-1 loss. Juuse Saros was the difference.
The Hurricanes outshot the Predators 30-20. They also controlled 57.1% of the shot attempts, which means they were firing the puck far more often. The quality of chances was close to even, so this was not a night where Nashville earned its goals by getting better looks. The goalies decided it.
Saros stopped 29 of 30, including 12 of 13 from in close. He finished +2.56 in goals saved above expected, meaning he kept out roughly two and a half more goals than an average goalie would have on those shots. The only puck that beat him came off Jackson Blake's stick.
At the other end, Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 16 of 19. Ross Colton, Adam Edstrom, Roman Josi and Nick Perbix scored for Nashville. Colton and Edstrom played on a line with Jack Drury, and that trio combined for two goals. Filip Forsberg added two assists.
Neither side hit a post, so luck off the iron played no part. For the 12-2-2 Hurricanes, it was a rare off night that their goalie could not rescue. For Nashville, now 5-4-5 and holding a wild-card spot, it was a win built in the crease.
