Askarov stopped 31 shots in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Canadiens.
Making his debut for the Predators, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft showed some nerves in the first period, but he settled down and the Habs needed power plays to score their final two goals of the night. Askarov will likely head back to AHL Milwaukee, where the 20-year-old goaltending prospect sports a 2.66 GAA and .905 save percentage through 22 games, when Kevin Lankinen (illness) is feeling 100 percent.
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Predators' Yaroslav Askarov: Returned to AHL affiliate
Rotowire
Askarov was reassigned to AHL Milwaukee on Friday.
Askarov was recalled Wednesday and made his NHL debut Thursday, giving up four goals on 35 shots in a 4-3 loss to Montreal. The 20-year-old goaltender was selected 11th overall in 2020 and is expected to be the Predators' goaltender of the future. He was recalled as Kevin Lankinen was ill and unable to play. Askarov is 13-6-2 with a 2.66 GAA and a .905 save percentage in the AHL this season.
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Predators' Yaroslav Askarov: Making NHL debut
Rotowire
Askarov will guard the road goal versus the Canadiens on Thursday, Willy Daunic of Bally Sports Tennessee reports.
Askarov will make his NHL debut in this contest, with Kevin Lankinen (illness) unavailable. With AHL Milwaukee, Askarov has a 13-6-4 record with a 2.66 GAA and a .905 save percentage through 22 games in his first season in North America.
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Predators' Yaroslav Askarov: Called up Wednesday
Rotowire
Askarov was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Askarov is up as insurance in goal for the Predators -- Juuse Saros will start versus the Maple Leafs, but Kevin Lankinen (undisclosed) is considered a game-time decision. Given the relatively minor nature of Lankinen's injury, Askarov shouldn't be expected to play during this stint with the big club.
Askarov signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Nashville on Monday.
Askarov was selected 11th overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He's appeared in 16 games with KHL St. Petersburg over the last three seasons, posting a terrific 1.48 GAA and .937 save percentage in the process. The 6-foot-3 netminder will turn 20 this offseason and will likely begin next year with AHL Milwaukee but could make an NHL impact before long.
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Predators' Yaroslav Askarov: Playing well in KHL
Rotowire
Askarov has gone 1-1-2 while posting an impressive 1.53 GAA and .925 save percentage through four games with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg this season.
Askarov, the 11th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, will play the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign in Russia, but he could make the transition to North America to play in the AHL or serve as Juuse Saros' backup next season. Saros is locked in as the Predators' No. 1 netminder after signing a four-year, $20 million contract in August, but the addition of Askarov could give Nashville one of the more formidable goaltending duos in the NHL moving forward.
