The Nashville Predators flipped a switch on Feb. 17 and have gone on a 16-game point streak. While every aspect of the team has been impressive, we're going to take a deeper look at the goaltending and what it means to this team.
The tandem of Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen have proven, especially lately, that this is one of the top duos in the NHL this season. Each of them can carry their team to a win at any time and there's no 1-2 in the league that has come close to them over the past 16 games.
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Saros has gotten 12 of the 16 starts while Lankinen has started the other four. They are a combined 14-0-2, and even though the offense is number one in the league (4.05 goals-per-game) since Feb. 1, the goaltending has won games for them just as much.
Saros has more games to go off of, and his record and numbers show just how elite he has been. He is 10-0-2 in that span with a .932 SV%, allowing just 23 goals. Somehow, in the 10 games that he has allowed two or fewer goals against over that stretch, he doesn't have a shutout.
Lankinen has more than done what is expected of him lately, winning all four games he has been called upon to start during the Predators' point streak. While earning his first shutout of the season in his previous game, Lankinen has allowed just six goals in his past four games and has posted a stellar .952 SV%.
A lot of credit can be given to the team defense as Saros has only had to face 30 or more shots in four of his past 12 games, making at least 30 saves twice. Lankinen has actually drawn the more difficult task by coming in after a handful of days off, facing 30 shots three of his four starts, and stopping 30 or more in two of them.
The Predators haven't been talked about enough this season for what the team has done, but the goaltending has gotten even less attention because of the tough start and more inconsistent play early on. This is proving to be an elite tandem in Nashville with Saros and Lankinen in the crease.
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