Predators' Saros misses opener with lower-body injury

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros wasn't available for his team's season opener against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Saros was listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury on Wednesday, according to the Tennessean's Alex Daugherty. At the time, he said the ailment was "nothing crazy" and revealed that the issue occurred in the first period of the Predators' final preseason game Saturday.

The Finn was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Offseason signing Scott Wedgewood got the start against Nashville's Central Division rivals and his former team. He spent the last two full campaigns with the Stars as the primary backup to Jake Oettinger, logging a 16-7-5 record, .899 save percentage, and 2.85 goals against average in 2023-24.

Wedgewood surrendered four goals on 20 shots in the Predators' 4-3 loss Thursday.

Matt Murray served as Wedgewood's backup after being recalled from the AHL the previous day.

Saros appeared in two preseason games for Nashville, turning aside all 35 shots he faced, per Natural Stat Trick.

The Predators locked the 29-year-old in as their starting netminder for the foreseeable future this offseason, signing him to an eight-year, $61.92-million extension that kicks in next campaign.

One of the league's premier goaltenders, Saros was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2022. Though he had a down year by his lofty standards in 2023-24, Saros still posted 35 wins and a .906 save percentage in 64 appearances.