Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros will miss at least the first two games of the Predators’ first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Colorado due to a high left ankle sprain.

The announcement by coach John Hynes on Monday means Nashville is without its top goaltender until at least Game 3 of the series, scheduled for Saturday in Nashville. Game 1 is set for Tuesday night, with Game 2 on Thursday, with both contests in Denver.

Saros sustained the injury on April 26 against the Calgary Flames and did not play in the Predators’ final two regular-season games.

Saros’ absence leaves David Rittich or Connor Ingram as the starter in Game 1 vs. the top-seeded Avalanche. Rittich has appeared as a sub in one postseason game, when he saved six of the nine shots he faced while playing for Calgary against the Dallas Stars on Aug. 20, 2020. Ingram has no playoff experience.

Saros, 27, had a 38-25-3 record in 67 starts for the Predators this season, with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

–Field Level Media