Bunting is currently injured after undergoing an appendectomy last week. The 29-year-old Bunting's tenure as a Penguin comes to an end after just 79 games with the franchise, where he tallied 20 goals and 28 assists.
Barron will take a seat on Tuesday as the Predators opt to dress just six defencemen. Mark Jankowski (upper-body) will draw into the lineup in his place.
Svechkov draws right back into the Preds lineup after being a healthy scratch in New York on Sunday. Svechkov has six goals and three assists in 30 games this season.
Jankowski will make his first appearance since February 23rd when the Predators travel to Boston on Tuesday. Justin Barron will sit in his place.
The Predators have been outscored 11-4 during a two-game losing skid (0-2-0) and will turn to Saros between the pipes on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Saros has allowed four or more goals in four of his last six games (2-4-0), posting a .880 SV%. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% in 45 games this season (13-25-6). The Predators enter Tuesday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Bruins squad without Brad Marchand (upper body).
Willis was a fourth-round pick, 111th overall, of the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 44 points (21G / 23A) in 38 OHL games between the Saginaw Spirit and the Kingston Frontenacs this season.
Saros will get the call between the pipes for the 44th time this season when the Predators host the Jets on Thursday. Saros struggled in his last outing, allowing four goals on 25 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday. Nashville's franchise netminder is in the midst of a disappointing campaign, registering an .899 SV% and a league-leading 24 regulation losses. Saros and the Predators enter action on Thursday at +115 on the money line.
With Roman Josi (upper body) sidelined, Del Gaizo will re-enter the lineup for the Predators. Del Gaizo has split time this season between Nashville and Milwaukee (AHL). The 25-year-old defenseman has already played a career-high 21 games with Nashville this season, scoring three points (0G / 3A).
Josi suffered an upper-body injury after receiving a hit from Sam Bennett in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, exiting the contest late in the second period. The 34-year-old Josi has 38 points (9G / 29A) and a career-worst -26 plus/minus rating through 53 games this season.
Del Gaizo has split time this season between Nashville and Milwaukee (AHL). The 25-year-old defenseman has already played a career-high 21 games with Nashville this season, scoring three points (0G / 3A).
Bunting had become a fixture on Pittsburgh's top powerplay unit but will unfortunately be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing an appendectomy. The 29-year-old Bunting has 29 points (14G / 15A) and a -18 plus/minus rating in 58 games this season.
