Saros stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Predators' Game 5 win in Vancouver. Through five games, Saros is 2-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .879 SV%. The Predators have done an outstanding job in front of Saros, allowing just 18.2 shots against per game and the lowest xGA/60 (2.27) in the postseason.
Saros stopped 19 of 20 shots in the Predators' Game 5 win in Vancouver. Through five games, Saros is 2-3 with a 2.21 GAA and .879 SV%. The Predators have done an outstanding job in front of Saros, allowing just 18.2 shots against per game and the lowest xGA/60 (2.27) in the postseason.
With Texas (AHL) reaching the second round of the AHL playoffs, Mavrik Bourque has been loaned back to the Stars to continue their playoff push. The 22-year-old will make a much welcomed return after he led Texas in scoring during the regular season with 26 goals and 77 points in 71 games played.
The Predators will unsurprisingly turn to Saros with their season on the line on Tuesday as they look to claw back from a 3-1 series deficit. Saros had another disappointing performance in Game 4 on Sunday, allowing four goals on just 21 shots as the Canucks came back to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory in overtime. Saros' SV% on the series sits uncharacteristically low at .859, and he will no doubt need to do a lot better than that if the Predators are going to have any chance of getting back in this series.
Nashville will turn back to Saros for Game 3 on Friday at home after he impressed in Game 2 by stopping 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a road victory to even the series. The 29-year-old had yet another strong regular season this year with his 35-24-5 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will look to take a series lead on Friday as Nashville hosts Vancouver, who will look to get back to their scoring ways after finishing the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).
With both Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa day-to-day, Mavrik Bourque has been recalled and will be used for Game 3 on Saturday if need be. The 22-year-old centre is coming off a sensational season with Texas (AHL) where he had 26 goals, 77 points and 32 PIMs in 71 games played.
Hague missed Game 2 due to a lower-body injury and will remain out on Saturday as Vegas hosts Dallas for Game 3. The 25-year-old has missed a total of eight regular season games in the last two season and had two goals, 12 points, 43 PIMs and 105 SOG in 73 games this year.
Lyubushkin was away from the Maple Leafs on Friday due to the birth of his child but is expected to be ready to play on Saturday for Game 4 vs. Boston. The 30-year-old shutdown defenseman has played well since being acquired at the trade deadline and has one assist, one SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in the first three games of the playoffs.
Nashville will expectedly turn back to Saros for Game 3 on Friday at home after he impressed in Game 2 by stopping 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a road victory to even the series. The 29-year-old had yet another strong regular season this year with his 35-24-5 record, 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. He will look to take a series lead on Friday as Nashville hosts Vancouver, who will look to get back to their scoring ways after finishing the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.4).
Perbix will draw in along with Tanner Jeannot after both players sat out Game 2 on Tuesday. Maxwell Crozier and Calvin de Haan will draw out of the lineup in their place.
Hague played 15:41 time-on-ice in the Golden Knights 4-3 game one victory over the Dallas Stars but suffered a lower-body injury at some point and will not be able to play on Wednesday in game two. The 25-year-old Hague finished the 2023-24 campaign with 12 points (2G / 10A), 111 blocks, and 153 hits in 73 games.
Saros will unsurprisingly get the nod in goal on Tuesday as he and the Predators look to bounce back from a disappointing Game 1 defeat. Nashville's starting netminder allowed three goals on just 20 shots in Sunday's loss, as the Canucks added an empty netter to seal a 4-2 victory and take the early series lead. Saros and the Predators enter tonight as very slight underdogs at +105. They will be hoping to steal home-ice advantage from the Canucks and even up the series before heading back home for Game 3.
Perbix will draw out of the Lightning lineup as Maxwell Crozier and Calvin de Haan will draw in for Game 2 against the Panthers. It's unclear at this time whether Perbix is simply a healthy scratch or if he's dealing with an undisclosed injury.
Colorado has been porous defensively lately, being outscored 26-14 in their last five games (1-3-1), and will give Alexandar Georgiev the night off in their final game of the season. Annunnen has been serviceable when called upon this season, posting 2.35 GAA and .925 SV% in 13 games (7-4-1), but struggled in his last outing, a relied performance, allowing three goals on 11 shots (.727 SV%) in a 7-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Colorado enters action on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers as a -189 home favourite.
