Hendrix Lapierre will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Dallas Stars, allowing Vrana to re-enter the lineup. Vrana has been limited to 16 games this season, last playing on November 21st, and has seven points (4G / 3A) while averaging 10:20 time-on-ice.
Svechkov will take a seat on Thursday as Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist make their returns to the lineup. Svechkov has two goals and zero assists in nine games this season.
Annunen will make his second start as a Predator when Nashville travels to Dallas to take on the Stars on Thursday. Annunen was sharp in a losing effort in his Preds debut, allowing just two goals on 29 shots in a 3-0 defeat in Montreal last Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder owns a 6-5-0 record and an .879 SV% in 12 appearances split between the Avalanche and Predators this season. He's a longshot to secure his first win as a Predator on Thursday with Nashville entering action at +185 on the money line.
Friedman made his Vancouver season debut on Tuesday vs. St. Louis and played 14:49 TOI. He has four points (1G/3A) and five PIMs in eight games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.
Josi suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames and did not return. The 34-year-old Josi is only day-to-day but is a crushing loss for the Predators' blueline. He has 23 points (7G / 16A) while averaging 24:59 time-on-ice through 29 games. With Alexandre Carrier (upper body) also out, and placed on Injured Reserve, the Predators have recalled Kevin Gravel from Milwaukee (AHL).
Gravel has played 132 career NHL games but has exclusively been an AHL played since a 23-game stint with the Predators in the 2022-23 season. The 32-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Friedman made his Canucks' season debut on Tuesday vs. St. Louis and played 14:49 TOI but has been reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) as the team anticipates the return of Derek Forbert. Friedman returns to Abbotsford, where he has four points (1G/3A) and five PIMs in eight games played this season.
Saros will make his league-leading 24th start of the season when the Predators host the Flames on Tuesday. Saros is in the midst of a six game losing streak, registering a lowly .886 SV% across that span. He still owns a .910 SV% on the season despite the poor stretch of play, but a lack of goal support has his record sitting at 6-12-5. Luckily for Saros, he has a great chance of getting back in the win column on Tuesday as the Predators enter action at -180 on the money line.
Friedman has played 88 career games in the NHL but has had trouble solidifying himself on a roster. The 28-year-old defenseman has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in eight games.
Jayden Struble will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Anaheim Ducks, allowing Barron to re-enter the lineup after a one-game absence. The 23-year-old Barron is averaging 15:29 time-on-ice through 13 games, recording one point (1G / 0A), 15 blocks, and 15 hits.
Annunen will make his Predators debut on Thursday as Juuse Saros gets the night off on the tail-end of Nashville's back-to-back. Annunen struggled with the Avalanche before being dealt to the Predators for Scott Wedgewood, posting an .872 SV% and a 3.23 GAA across 11 appearances. The 24-year-old netminder draws a favourable matchup for his Nashville debut as the Predators enter action as -135 favourites against the Habs.
The Predators will attempt to snap a four-game losing skid on Wednesday and likely turn to Saros between the pipes. Despite the team's recent struggle, Saros has played serviceably, allowing three or fewer goals in 12 of his last 13 (4-5-4) and posting a stellar .921 SV%. The Predators enter Wednesday's contest as +138 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs club that has won five of its last six (5-1-0).
