We've reached the Winter Olympics and a chance for the Nashville Predators to reset, but for Juuse Saros it's a chance to find his mojo in time for the stretch run for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Most goalies are streaky, and Saros is no different. However, this season has been far more of an issue than just being a little streaky. He hasn't been able to be the game stealer we've always known him as, and instead has become almost a liability. Something that pains me to say.
Among goalies who have played in at least 20 games, Saros is 47th out of 52 qualifying goalies in Goals Saved Above Expected at -13. But wait, it gets worse. Saros has given up the most goals in the entire NHL with 134 surrendered, which is 13 more than the next-closest goalie. Just brutal stuff.
Saros now gets ready to represent Finland at the Winter Olympics. He's joined by fellow goaltenders Kevin Lankinen and Joonas Korpisalo.
Juuse Saros has unique opportunity to find his mojo at the Winter Olympics for Team Finland
Finland's overall goalie numbers don't look much better when you add in Lankinen and Korpisalo. Lankinen is ranked just barely ahead of Saros in GSA, while Korpisalo is used more sparingly with only 22 games played and a injury replacement to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Despite Saros' slumping numbers this year, I have to think he's the No.1 for Finland going into their opening game on Wednesday against Slovakia in preliminary action. But if he gets yanked on the international stage, then I can't imagine how that will impact the rest of his NHL season as his team really needs him to push them to a wildcard spot.
This is the first time NHL players have played at the Olympis since 2014 in Sochi. Saros had just been drafted in 2013 by the Predators in the fourth round. But Saros has represneted Finland recently on the internation stage by playing at the Four Nations Faceoff in 2025 and also at the Wolrd Championship.
Saros had a rough go of it at the Four Nations, going 0-2-0 for a 3.96 GAA and a .870 save percentage. Now he was up against a guantlet of talent in that format against other NHL superstars, whereas in the Olympics it will be a blend of international players and NHL players.
It would be awesome to see Saros morph into old school Saros and pull Finland deeper into the Olympics and help the win a medal. Canada and USA are the favorites, but Finland has a good squad as well that can make some noise if their goaltending can step up.
Saros is already up to 44 starts in his NHL season with the team having 25 games left. Justus Annunen has actually stepped up well in relief of Saros, but also has similar bad numbers overall.
It's pretty wild to see the Predators only four points back of the wildcard with such mediocre goaltending. Historically with this team it's been the opposite. Stellar goaltending keeping them alive and overshadowing what is otherwise a bad team.
Let's see if Saros can find his juice at the Olympics and springboard him into the final 25 games for the Predators. I'll say it again; goalies can be so frustrating with their streakiness, and the Predators really need Saros to find his hot streak and regain his confidence at the Olympics.
Saros is joined at the Olympics by fellow Nashville Predators teammates Filip Forsberg (Sweden), Roman Josi (Switzerland), Erik Haula (Finland).