Nashville Predators starting goaltender Juuse Saros made the second most saves in an NHL regulation & non-overtime game with 64 stops en route to a 5-3 win versus the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Coming into tonight’s game the Hurricanes posted an 11-0-1 record in their last 12 contests.
“Yea, obviously it’s a nice feeling, more so to get the two points. It was nice to get the win,” Saros said.
Saros was six saves away from setting the all-time NHL record. In the 2nd period, the netminder made 21 saves and 28 in the 3rd.
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Quebec Nordiques goalie Ron Tugnutt holds first place with 70 saves on 73 total shots, which is also the most shots taken in NHL history by a single team. The Nordiques tied the Bruins 3-3 back on March 21, 1991.
Mario Lessard, the Los Angeles Kings netminder in 1981 holds second place ahead of Saros putting up 65 saves on 68 shots against the Minnesota North Stars.
During the second period, the NHL announced its All-Star lineups for each division Saros was named the starter for the Central Division. He joins Pekka Rinne as the only goaltenders to make multiple All-Star appearances.
Saros set a new Predators franchise record with the most saves in a regulation contest with his 55th save coming on a shot from defenseman Burns with 6:38 to play in regulation on Thursday evening.
“Im fine that’s why we practice,” Saros said after his record-breaking performance.
Former Predators goaltender Dan Ellis was the previous record holder making 54 saves in a regular season game back on Nov. 11, 2008, against the San Jose Sharks.
The result may not have been what it was if Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon didn’t come up with a blocked shot late in the third period.
Jeremy Lauzon’s undisputed biggest moment as a #Preds player. Bailing Saros out to cap out a historic night.pic.twitter.com/iQI9HFSAHe
— Nick Kieser 🏒 (@KieserNick) January 6, 2023
“It’s always nice to hear, they’re all great guys, so it’s fun to play with them,” Saros said of his teammates saying he’s their best player for a reason.
Predators fill-in play-by-play man Max Herz tweeted that Saros is the only person in his own lifetime to make that many saves in a regular season game.
The Hurricanes set a franchise record by putting up 67 shots in one game. Nashville had 25 shots against rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov all night.
Carolina hadn’t seen this many shots in a single game since they were known as the Hartford Whalers. The last time the Hurricanes had 60+ shots was in 1984 against the Toronto Maple Leafs winning 5-3 on 65 total shots on net.
The Predators will travel to Washington D.C. with a date against the Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. CT and after a long evening in the net for Saros, it’ll likely be Kevin Lankinen giving his starter a well-earned night off.