Smashville Scope: May 19-24

The Smashville Scope presented by JOCKEY prepares fans for the week ahead with news, videos and clips from the past week, plus, game and event info for the next seven days. Use promo code "GOAL" to save 25% on your next JOCKEY purchase.
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Ryan Johansen stated it perfectly when he was asked to describe what Juuse Saros meant to the Nashville Predators, particularly when it came to backstopping the team to a pair of back-to-back double overtime victories to even their first-round series with Carolina at two games apiece.
"He's a stud," Johansen said of his goaltender who set a franchise record for a single contest with 58 saves in Game 4, a 4-3 win for Nashville in just over 95 minutes of hockey played.
Johansen then went on to use a few more sentences in an attempt to articulate what he and his teammates had just witnessed from their Gold-padded puck stopper, but really, is there anything more to be said?

Perhaps one just needs to count the number of times chants of "Juuuuuuuice" echoed through the Bridgestone Arena rafters in a span of three days.
Matt Duchene scored the winner in double OT in Game 3, and Luke Kunin got it done on Sunday afternoon, but without Saros, the Preds wouldn't have been in position to claim either of those victories in the most dramatic of fashions.
Prior to the start of the 2021 postseason, Predators General Manager David Poile praised Saros for playing a massive role in even allowing the Preds to clinch a playoff spot, but the GM went on to add that now was the opportunity for Saros to show he could be an elite goaltender at this time of the year.
The numbers say he's done so.
Saros's 58-save performance in Game 4 saw the goaltender record the 25th-most saves in a game in NHL history, based on data available since 1920, and that record-setting day followed a 52-save outing in Game 3.
With the results, Saros became the second NHL goaltender since 1955-56 to record 50-plus saves in consecutive playoff games and the first since St. Louis' Curtis Joseph in Games 1 and 2 of the 1993 Norris Division Finals. Per NHL PR, he became the ninth goaltender on record to post at least 58 saves in a playoff game in which he played fewer than 100 minutes.

In total, Saros stopped a combined 110 of 117 shots faced in Games 3 (52) and 4 (58). His 110 saves in Games 3-4 are tied for the seventh-most in a two-game span by an NHL goaltender (regular season or playoffs) since 1955-56.
So, how does one achieve such grandeur in an exhilarating, exhausting setting?
"It speaks volumes to where he's at mentally," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of Saros. "Now, I do think because of the type of shape he's in and the commitment, he takes care of himself away from the rink and in preparation to play that once he gets in there and the adrenaline's going and you're in the game, he has the physical ability to really sustain it for long periods of time. I think the biggest thing, and tribute to him, it's just the focus level and the mental and emotional toughness to do it day after day, game after game, period after period, and that's a good sign for him moving forward. A goalie, a lot of times, is like a quarterback. They've got to be so focused all the time, make the right reads, do certain things and he's done a really good job of that."
Simply put, Saros has excelled in the two biggest games of his Predators career to date, and the goal-scoring hero of Game 4 knew exactly who deserved the rest of the credit.
"I mean, he's been our best player all year," Kunin said of Saros. "He's a beast back there, and we just want to help him out as much as we can. He's been playing unbelievable."

Double-Overtime Magic:

Never say never, but the chances the Predators win back-to-back playoff games in double overtime ever again?
The odds aren't great.
Not to say they couldn't pull it off again if the opportunity presented itself, but considering the Predators had only gone past a single overtime session six times in 115 playoff games entering the 2021 postseason, getting there is a rare feat on its own.
But in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, logic doesn't have much of a place in the grand scheme of it all, especially when a goaltender is feeling it, 12,135 fans are combining to form decibel readings unsafe for the average ear and OT is required to determine a game that is already unpredictable enough.
What happened at Bridgestone Arena over the past three days may never be seen again.
Both Games 3 and 4 between the Preds and Hurricanes went to double overtime, marking the first time the Predators have played in consecutive such games in team history. Nashville improved its all-time playoff OT record to 10-10 (7-4 at Bridgestone Arena), and with a pair of wins, the Preds also moved to 5-3 in postseason games that required multiple overtimes.

Game 4, coming in at 96:10, replaced Friday's Game 3 as the third-longest game in Predators history, and Kunin became the ninth player in Predators history to score a playoff OT goal, joining Matt Duchene, Craig Smith, Kevin Fiala (twice), James Neal, Viktor Arvidsson, Mike Fisher, Matt Halischuk and Jerred Smithson.
Kunin joined Duchene (Game 3), Halischuk (Game 2 of the 2011 Western Conference Semifinals at Vancouver), Fisher (Game 4 of the 2016 Western Conference Second Round vs. San Jose) and Fiala (Game 2 of the 2018 Western Conference Second Round vs. Winnipeg) as the only players in team history to score the game-winning goal in a game that required multiple overtimes.
So, yes, we all witnessed a rare feat in SMASHVILLE, and no matter what happens the rest of the way, a pair of instant classics were added to the Predators record books.

Preds, NHL Helping to Conduct Feasibility Study of Men's, Women's Ice Hockey Teams at Tennessee State University:

The Predators have been breaking barriers for the game of ice hockey in Nashville for more than two decades, and one of the more notable impacts might be just beginning.
A feasibility study is exploring the possibility of Tennessee State University becoming the first historically-black institution to have varsity men's and women's ice hockey teams, and in partnership with the National Hockey League, the Predators and College Hockey Inc., the study hopes to bring a favorable outcome, leading to the historic expansion of intercollegiate athletics.
Since 2017, the NHL and NHLPA have sponsored feasibility studies to U.S. colleges and universities that are interested in exploring the addition of NCAA D-I Men's and Women's Ice Hockey to their athletic offerings. Ultimately, the study will answer questions about how viable is hockey at TSU, and what needs to happen to put teams on the ice.
Over the last decade, Middle Tennessee has seen the second-highest percentage increase in youth hockey in the United States. In the past six years alone, there have been four new facilities - and seven sheets of ice - that have been built or are in the process of being built in Middle Tennessee.

"The passion and vision of President Glover, Dr. Allen and all of Tennessee State University's leadership in pushing to make hockey a more diverse and inclusive sport through this feasibility study is both inspiring and humbling," Predators President and CEO Sean Henry
said via press release
. "Through their passion and track record they will be able to create another success story for other schools and communities to chase and ideally emulate. Pair that with our incredible community, our fan base and wealth of community corporate partners and we will collectively take SMASHVILLE and our sport to new heights because of their pursuit of excellence on all fronts."
Last year, TSU and the Preds partnered to promote student success through scholarships for retention, along with educational and employment opportunities.
The Predators' partnership with TSU falls in line with the NHL's "Hockey Is For Everyone" initiative, and the Predators' effort to create positive change with their GUIDER (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Representation) initiative, founded with the objective of diminishing the prevalence of social injustice.
Results from the feasibility study are expected in the late fall.

Preds Playoff Hub Continues:

While the Preds are on the road in Carolina, and even when they return home for Game 6, there are plenty of ways for fans to show their love for their team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with watch parties, Preds Pride Pickups and game-day offers.
When the Preds return home for Game 6 on Thursday, there will be plenty of festivities to partake in as well. Bridgestone Arena Plaza Parties are set to begin three hours before puck drop for Game 6 at 5:30 p.m. CT. Fans can join GNASH and the Energy team for live music, Preds Pride giveaways, ticket giveaways, food and beverage offerings, games and much more. Predators partners, including 102.5 The Game, Bridgestone, Hattie B's, Jack Daniels, RE/MAX and Tennessee Lottery will also be activated on the Plaza.
A Walk of Fame Preds Party in the Park is set to begin two hours before puck drop with fun for the whole family.
The ever-popular SMASH CAR, donated by PSC Metals and presented by Crushr, has also returned to the Bridgestone Arena Plaza for the 2021 Playoffs. At watch parties prior to all home games, fans can try their hand at smashing the SMASH CAR, with all proceeds benefiting the Predators Foundation.
Click here for all the details on the postseason fun.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

Preds forward Matt Duchene after scoring in double overtime to win Game 3:
"[To pump up and win for] the crowd here that I've been dying to play in front of in the playoffs for so long, that was just amazing to play here at home. I was really disappointed last year that we went to the bubble and we didn't have games here. [They're the] best fans in the NHL. It's just incredible to play here, and we needed that. It feels good, and we're going to enjoy it tonight, and it's right back at it because we're still down in the series. We got some traction and scored a few more goals, and we've got to take the next one and hold serve here."

Shot of the Week:

…and there's more where that came from.
Hurricanes vs. Preds, Game 3 Photo Gallery
Hurricanes vs. Preds, Game 4 Photo Gallery

The Week Ahead:

Tuesday at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 5, 7 p.m. CT
TV:Bally Sports South/CNBC Radio: 102.5 The Game
Thursday vs. Carolina Hurricanes, Game 6, 8:30 p.m. CT
TV: Bally Sports South/NBCSN Radio: 102.5 The Game
Click Here for Tickets
Saturday at Carolina Hurricanes, Game 7, *If Necessary
TV: TBD Radio: 102.5 The Game

Predators Official Podcast:

A future friend of the show no more. Singer, songwriter and Preds fan Ben Rector joins the podcast to discuss his musical creation process (22:18), his favorite moments in sports and with the Preds (32:15) and some funny stories behind his lyrics (24:40). Don't worry, there's plenty of talk about the Round 1 playoff series between the Predators and Hurricanes. Thomas Willis and Brooks Bratten recap the first two games of the playoff matchup (6:20) and share what Nashville needs to do to win Games 3 and 4 (11:47). Plus, Pekka Rinne is nominated for the 2021 King Clancy Memorial Trophy (48:10) and a third Ford Ice Center is announced (44:44).

Week in Review:

Kunin, Saros Lead Preds to Another Double OT Victory to Tie Series
There's No Place Like Home: Best of the Preds in Game 3
Duchene Scores in Double Overtime as Preds Win Game 3 Over Hurricanes
Preds, 102.5 The Game to Host 615 Day Celebration at Ford Ice Center
Preds Fall to Hurricanes in Game 2 of First-Round Series
Sabertooth Sports and Entertainment Announces Ice Center in Sumner County
Rinne Named Nashville's Nominee for 2021 King Clancy Memorial Trophy