Three Nashville Predators goalies were on the ice for practice on Wednesday ahead of their season opener against the Dallas Stars.
Matthew Murray, one of Nashville’s offseason free agent acquisitions, was present after going through the Milwaukee Admirals training camp.
After the final whistle head coach Andrew Brunette stepped off the ice & said goaltender Juuse Saros was day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
“We’re day-to-day so we have no idea yet, don’t know what’s going to happen,” Brunette said when asked who will start the season opener.
If Saros is unable to go the presumed starting goalie would be Scott Wedgewood who signed a two-year deal worth $3 million over the summer. Out of the gates, Wedgewood would get to play his former team where he spent the last parts of two years.
Saros said he suffered his injury during the first period of the final preseason game last week against the Carolina Hurricanes.
“Making progress today & I felt a lot better today,” he said.
He was reassuring that his injury wasn’t anything “too crazy” & expects to be back to 100% soon. It was a good sign that he was on the ice & plans to take it one step at a time.
Regardless of the situation, Saros has Wedgewood backing him up who went 16-7-5 last season as a member of the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood stepped in for an injured Jake Oettinger last season playing 11 games from Dec. 16 to Jan. 11 posting a 6-3-2 record.
If he does have to start opening night he’s all ears for his name to be called.
“Getting to be in net in front of the home crowd & be on the right side of the crowd will be fun & it seems like a great place to play,” Wedgewood said.
Getting ready for games has a little bit of a twist to it for Wedgewood. Last season Kevin Lankinen developed a moniker for it while Wedgewood has had a consistent routine over the last few years.
“I have a mental guy I’ve hired over the last four or five years now & talk to him based on scheduling,” Wedgewood said. “Just to make sure the wires & roads are pointing in the right direction. On the mental side, it’s a tough sport & aspect if you get on the wrong side of your head, it can affect you.”
Fans can expect to see the veteran goaltender play with pace & aggression. He said sometimes he gets a little out of the net because of that. Controlling his habits & actions is his main focus as he begins a new chapter with Nashville’s staff.
“Being one percent better has kind of been the notion here with the goalie group & I’m sure it’s crept over to the players too,” Wedgewood said. “If I can stick to the routine, I like to track my food, what I’m intaking, make sure I’m fueled. I sweat a lot so I’ve dialed in how much water I need.
“I call it doing my homework. If you sleep well you recover well, you do those things & whether they’re helping you or not in the grand scheme of things. It’s a checklist in my mind. I wore my Normatecs, went to bed earlier, and didn’t stay on my phone. You did your studying for the test & that’s been how I approach it.”
Since last season started one major life change has shifted how Wedgewood spends his time away from the rink.
His daughter Scarlett was born in March this year. Scott & his wife Brittany have been soaking it all in since then. They have a daughter who can now crawl & sit up on her own since getting to Nashville.
“It’s definitely all I think about. As you get in the car after practice or a day here you wonder how was the first nap & how’s mom doing,” Wedgewood said. “It used to be go home & kill time for two hours whether it be a nap or playing video games or whatever the guys are doing. Now, it’s how can I get back & see her.”
Back at the rink, Wedgewood & Saros will look to make wholesome moments of their own now that a new season begins against the Stars tomorrow night.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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