The Nashville Predators dropped their season opener last night to the Dallas Stars 4-3. The Predators got goals from Filip Forsberg, Tommy Novak, and Ryan O’Reilly. Scott Wedgewood got the start in goal against his former team last night; he is the first goalie not named Pekka Rinne and Saros to start a season opener for the Predators since Dan Ellis. Saros didn’t start last night due to a lower-body injury which gave Wedgewood the nod and had Matt Murray backing him up. Today, the Predators got some good news regarding Saros as they have sent Murray down to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL which likely indicated Saros will be good to go for tomorrow night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. Saros did practice yesterday but just wasn’t able to go.
Matt Murray
Murray started his career with the Stars, his first season in their organization was in 2021-22 when he played for the Texas Stars of the AHL playing in six games going 5-1-0 with a 1.68 goals against average and a .947 save percentage. In 2022-23 with Dallas he played in three games for them going 1-2-0 with a 3.39 goals against average, and an .844 save percentage; he also played in 34 games for the Stars AHL affiliate the Texas Stars going 18-10-5 with a 2.37 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. Last season, he played in 31 games for Texas going 14-15-2 with a 3.02 goals against average and a .896 save percentage; in one start for Dallas, he recorded a shutout stopping all 23 shots he faced. He signed with Nashville on July 1st.
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Juuse Saros
Saros signed an eight-year $7.74 AAV extension with the Predators this past offseason. The 5-11, 180 lb goalie was drafted by the Predators with the 99th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He’s made 350 appearances in goal for them going 182-119-32 with a 2.63 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. Last season in 64 games he went 35-24-5 with a 2.86 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. He’s finished in the top five for Vezina Trophy voting the last three seasons.
