Nashville Predators get grim news regarding health of G Juuse Saros

The Nashville Predators have confirmed their reservation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, but they have a problem on their hands. 

Goaltender Juuse Saros left in the 3rd period of last night's game against the Calgary Flames with an undisclosed injury and did not return to action. And though the exact nature of his injury still has yet to be made public, he'll not be appearing in Nashville's final two regular season games. 

What's worse, according to Frank Seravalli, the initial diagnosis was "less than encouraging". 

Needless to say, this isn't good for the Predators. In his first full season as the starter in the crease after the retirement of franchise legend Pekka Rinne, Saros enjoyed strong numbers, posting a 38-25-3 record, a 2.64 goals against average and .918 save percentage along with four shutouts. 

The Predators will now turn to backup David Rittich, and may be calling upon him for the first few games of the playoffs, depending on the severity of the Saros injury. They've also called up goaltender Connor Ingram from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

Rittich has amassed a 5-3-4 record with a 3.56 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage this season, his first with Nashville after having spent the first portion of his career with the Flames along with a brief stop with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

If Nashville has any hope of advancing in the postseason, they almost certainly won't be able to do so without Saros between the pipes.