This is Saros' first career nod to an NHL All-Star Game roster. The 26-year-old goaltender enters tonight's contest vs. Buffalo with a 20-9-1 record, 2.27 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 30 starts for the Predators, who sit first in the Central Division standings. Among NHL goaltenders who have played in at least 20 games, Saros is tied for first in wins, fifth in save percentage and seventh in goals-against average; he leads all Central Division goalies in all three categories.
The Forssa, Finland, native has won 10 of his last 11 starts dating back to Dec. 4, posting a .937 save percentage and 2.16 goals-against average in that span. During his current five-game win streak - one of two such stretches he's posted this season - Saros has stopped 202 of 213 shots for a .948 save percentage, making at least 40 saves three times, including a season-high 46 on Jan. 6 at Vegas. Saros is two wins from establishing a new career high in the category, which he previously set last season (21).
Saros becomes the third goaltender in Predators history to be named to an NHL All-Star Game roster, joining Pekka Rinne (2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and Tomas Vokoun (2004).
Fans can vote Josi to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game roster as one of the "Last Men In" beginning tonight through Monday, Jan. 17 at 10:59 p.m. CT with the ability to cast a maximum of 10 ballots in a 24-hour period. Fans are also encouraged to voice their support for Josi and join the conversation on social media by using the official hashtag #NHLAllStar.
If voted in, it would be Josi's fourth career NHL All-Star Game nomination (2016, 2019 and 2020). The Predators Captain leads the team and is second among all NHL defensemen in points with 37 (12g-25a); he also ranks second among League blueliners in goals with 12. Josi ranks near the top of the NHL's best power-play performers, leading all defensemen and sitting third among all skaters in points on the man-advantage with 19 (7g-12a), and his seven power-play goals are the most out of NHL blueliners. The 2020 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensemen is the only player in his position to record two four-point games this season, and on Tuesday, he passed Martin Erat for the second-most points in Predators history with 483 (129g-354a).
The 2022 NHL All-Star Game, which will be broadcast live on ABC, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. CT from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the Skills Competition taking place the day before on Friday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
