Named an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career, Saros finished third in the NHL in wins with 38, a career high and the fourth-most in a season in Predators history. The 27-year-old Finn also led NHL goaltenders in minutes played (3,931:23) and starts (67); both were the fourth-most in a season in team history.
Saros recorded 38 of Nashville's 45 wins, the highest percentage (84.4%) among all NHL goaltenders. He also won three of his four shootout appearances, stopping 11 of 12 attempts for a .917 save percentage. Saros (38-25-3, 2.64 GAA, .918 SV%, four shutouts) is a first-time Vezina Trophy finalist and joins Rinne as the second netminder in franchise history so honored. Rinne was a four-time Vezina finalist, capturing the award in 2017-18, finishing second twice and third once.
Leading into All-Star Weekend, Saros was named the NHL's Second Star of the Month after a stellar January that also saw him named the NHL's Second Star of the Week early in the new year.
Saros went 8-2-2 in the month of January with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. He made 424 saves on 454 shots and had a single-game save percentage of at least .943 eight times in the month. At that point of the season, among NHL goaltenders who had played in at least 25 games, Saros was first in starts (37); third in save percentage (.927); tied for third in wins (23); seventh in goals-against average (2.36); and tied for seventh in shutouts (2). He won 10 of 11 starts from Dec. 4-Jan. 11, posting a .937 save percentage and 2.16 goals-against average in that span.
The three finalists for the 2022 NHL Awards are being announced through Friday, May 20. The winner of the Vezina Trophy will be announced later in the postseason.
