Juuse Saros is trusted.
The Lions need a top-fit Juuse Saros. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
In Finland, we have been waiting for years for when Juuse Saros30, collects his first career Vezina award for the NHL’s best goaltender.
After the 2022-23 season, it was not far away. In that season, the Finn saved the most goals of all NHL goaltenders, more than expected, 46.7.
Since that season, the star of the Nashville Predators has not managed to dominate that statistic in a similar way. For example, last season his reading was down by several notches.
The story continues after the picture.
Andrew Brunette is confident in his number one guard. EPA/AOP
Even though Saros’ statistics have collapsed in recent seasons, there is still a lot of credit for the Forssaan.
– When Juuse is on the game, he is quite quiet. He is extremely gifted athletically. Even difficult saves look easy to him, Predators head coach Andew Brunette said in Stockholm during the Global Series matches.
Ryan O’Reilly, who works with Saros on the ice every day, praises his teammate effusively.
From his speeches, he gets the impression that it is not comfortable to be opposite Saros in training.
– It is almost impossible for him to score in training. He is an incredibly good goalkeeper, one of the best in the world, O’Reilly said.
A special feature
According to Ryan O’Reilly, it is difficult to get the puck behind Saros’ back. PDO
O’Rielly doesn’t end his praise here.
One characteristic of Saros in particular gets praise from the 2019 Stanley Cup champion.
– Juuse is probably the fastest goalkeeper I’ve seen. He moves really fast and is always in the right place. It seems like you can’t miss him with a normal shot
The goodness of Saros, who will save as the Lions’ number one goalkeeper at the February Olympics, has also been noticed by other teams.
The Swedish star of the Pittsburgh Penguins Erik Karlsson share the honor with the neighboring country’s star keeper.
– Of course, he is a great goalkeeper. He’s hard to pass if he can see the pucks. If he sees a shot, he will block it.
Finland beat Sweden last February in the four-nation tournament in overtime. With the goal of the lions in the match, he made a save Kevin Lankinenbut Saros mostly bears the responsibility of tackling in Milano-Cortina.
In the first game of the Global Series in Stockholm, Saros was the master and Hidalgo allowed only one unlucky goal.
Karlsson hopes that this will change in Italy.
– Hopefully we could get goals behind his back in February, the Swede grinned.
Erik Karlsson hopes to hit the Olympics in Saros and Finland. PDO