Saros Earns Shutout as Predators Defeat Senators 3-0

The Nashville Predators extended their win streak to a season-high four games with a 3-0 shutout of the Ottawa Senators Monday at Canadian Tire Centre.
In addition to the four-game win streak, the Preds are currently riding a season-long six-game point streak (5-0-1) dating back to Dec. 30 at Anaheim.

THE STORY

Nino Niederreiter drove in on a 2-on-1 opportunity and dished the puck to Roman Josi, who fired it home with a one-timer to kick off the scoring for Nashville at 14:29 of the first period. Just 32 seconds later, Tanner Jeannot wrapped the puck around the back of the net to Jeremy Lauzon, who stuffed it in to extend Nashville's lead to 2-0.

Brady Tkachuk appeared to get the Senators on the board before the end of the frame, but a successful offside challenge by Nashville resulted in the goal being overturned and allowed the Preds to preserve their 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Senators had a successful offside challenge of their own less than two minutes into the second period, when a Matt Duchene goal at 4-on-4 was overturned. The score remained 2-0 through 40 as Juuse Saros and the Preds held the Senators scoreless over the first two periods.
The lone scorer in the third period was Filip Forsberg, who carried the puck into the zone on an odd-man rush, firing it past Ottawa netminder Cam Talbot at 7:30 of the period for the 3-0 final.
Saros stopped all 38 shots he faced in goal for the Predators, who improved to 18-14-6 on the season.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Another Milestone for The Captain
With his first-period tally, Josi reached 150 career goals in the NHL and 10 goals in a season for the ninth time. Brent Burns (11) of the Carolina Hurricanes is the only active defenseman with more 10-goal seasons, and Burns (232), Erik Karlsson (166) of the San Jose Sharks and Mark Giordano (152) of the Toronto Maple Leafs are the only active defensemen with more career goals than Josi's 150.

Josi has averaged nearly a point-per-game in his career vs. Ottawa, tallying 18 points (6g-12a) in 19 career meetings with the Senators, including three points (3a) on April 7, 2022.
Fil the Thrill
With his goal in the third period, Forsberg extended his team lead in points to 35 (16g-19a) and his team lead in goals to 16. Despite failing to find the scoresheet Friday at Washington, Forsberg has nine points (6g-3a) in his last six games dating back to Dec. 30 at Anaheim.

All-Star Shutout
Saros recorded his first shutout of the season and his fourth straight win. Saros has made 102 saves in his past two games, following his Nashville record 64 saves in a 5-3 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
As announced by the NHL on Thursday on ESPN - in the middle of his franchise record-setting 64-save performance at Carolina - Saros was named to the Central Division roster for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game. This is Saros' second career nod to an NHL All-Star Game roster after he was chosen to represent the Predators in the 2022 edition in Las Vegas.

THEY SAID IT

Juuse Saros on earning his first shutout of the season:
"It felt good out there; I had a lot of help today. We had a lot of big blocks and our penalty kill was really good... so, I've got to give some credit to the guys… I always like to play a lot, and it's been fun, for sure. And, we're in the playoff hunt, so every point matters. So we've just got to stay focused."
Coach Hynes on Nashville's perfect five-for-five penalty kill:
"That was a big one... I thought our penalty killers did a really good job tonight. Obviously, we got some big saves from [Saros] on the penalty kill, but their power play is threatening. They get a lot of different looks, they attack you from top and they do a really good job down around the goal line, obviously with Tkachuk. So, that made a big difference in the game."
Filip Forsberg on Saros' shutout, recent play:
"Pretty good, pretty good. We didn't didn't let him have 60-plus in this game (like we did in Carolina), so that made it a little easier on him. And then he stopped all of them. So, we're just going to try to keep [the shot counter] around 30 and he'll be good."
Coach Hynes on Saros' shutout, recent play:
"He's playing really well. And I think the game in Carolina was a little bit different - we usually don't give up that many shots. And I think when you look at tonight and the five penalties, you're probably going to lose the shot-clock battle on that too. But he's played really well. He's been solid and he gives us a chance to win every night."
Filip Forsberg on his production heating up:
"I think our line has been playing really well together. I think both Parssinen and Sissons have played great and I think the three of us compliment each other really well. We're all strong guys trying to get the puck and create from down low and it's just been working really well."
Filip Forsberg on Nashville's four-game winning streak:
"I think even before we started winning, we were playing better hockey. I thought there was a stretch where we didn't get the results but we were playing better and building our game. And now obviously, the results have been coming, but at the same time we've got more than half the year left. We've got to keep building our game and keep finding wins and points."
Coach Hynes on Nashville's four-game winning streak:
"Like every night, whether you win or lose, you want to take the good components of your game. I think we've really been building here - in the last three-and-a-half to four weeks - the game that gives us the best chance to win. I think we've been pretty consistent in that. With the games that we haven't been, we've still found a way to win and now we're on a road trip and we've won the first three games, so that's good. There's positive momentum, but we've got to regroup tomorrow and get ready for a good game against Toronto."

UP NEXT

The Preds continue their five-game road trip Wednesday with a visit to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast exclusively on TNT.