Nashville Predators News

Saros will return to the crease on Thursday after recording his second shutout of the season in his previous outing. Saros saved all 21 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, snapping his three-game losing streak (0-2-1) that saw him allow 13 goals and post an uncharacteristically low .829 SV%. The Predators will search for their third straight victory as -114 home favourites against a Calgary Flames club that has won two straight.

Despite a 3-2 win in their last outing courtesy of Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes, the Predators will turn back to Saros, who has lost three straight outings. Saros has allowed 13 goals over his last three games (0-3-0), posting a .829 SV% after an eight-game stretch (7-1-0) where he was nearly unbeatable, posting a stellar .936 SV%. That said, the Predators are significant -273 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that was destroyed by an 8-1 margin against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Hinostroza has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, indicating that Bryan Rust will likely return to the lineup for Pittsburgh. In 14 games with Pittsburgh, Hinostroza has three points (1G / 2A) and 27 shots on goal while averaging 9:45 time-on-ice.

Despite a 3-2 win in their last outing courtesy of Yaroslav Askarov between the pipes, the Predators will likely turn back to Saros, who has lost three straight outings. Saros has allowed 13 goals over his last three games (0-3-0), posting a .829 SV% after an eight-game stretch (7-1-0) where he was nearly unbeatable, posting a stellar .936 SV%. That said, the Predators are significant -273 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that was destroyed by an 8-1 margin against the Dallas Stars on Sunday.

Saros will get the nod for the sixth consecutive game as the Predators travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Friday. Nashville's franchise netminder has been a little hot and cold over that stretch, recording a SV% of at least .912 in three of those games while posting a sub .800 SV% in each of the other two starts. He'll have his hands full again on Friday as he takes on a Red Wings team that currently sits fifth in the NHL in goals per game at 3.51.

Chrona was recalled by the Sharks earlier this week after Mackenzie Blackwood was ruled unable to play due to an illness. The Sharks will turn to Chrona for the first start of his career on the back end of a back-to-back Thursday in a difficult matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. He entered a game in relief earlier this season for the Sharks, allowing four goals on 17 shots (.765 SV%), but has spent most of the season with the San Jose Baracuda of the AHL, posting a 3.35 GAA and .900 SV% in 11 games (3-6-2). Chrona and the Sharks' outlook for Thursday is not promising as they are +360 road underdogs and the Oilers.

Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to miss Wednesday vs. Los Angeles due to illness so Magnus Chrona has been recalled from the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) to backup. The 23-year-old has appeared once in relief this season for San Jose during a previous call up, posting a .765 SV% and 7.87 GAA in a rough but short appearance.

Saros allowed two goals in the last 15 seconds in the Predators' last game before the Christmas break, a heart-breaking 3-2 regulation loss to the Dallas Stars. That said, Saros has played well over the last month and will return to the crease on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Saros has won 11 of his last 14 games (11-3-0), allowing two goals or fewer in nine, posting an impressive .923 SV%. The Predators are +124 home underdogs against the Hurricanes, who have lost four of their last five (1-1-3).

Saros allowed two goals in the last 15 seconds in the Predators' last game before the Christmas break, a heart-breaking 3-2 regulation loss to the Dallas Stars. That said, Saros has played well over the last month and will likely return to the crease on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Saros has won 11 of his last 14 games (11-3-0), allowing two goals or fewer in nine, posting an impressive .923 SV%. The Predators are +124 home underdogs against the Hurricanes, who have lost four of their last five (1-1-3).

The move to IR opens up a roster spot for Damon Severson to be activated for Saturday's game. Blankenburg is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Lucchini was recalled prior to Thursday's game because Ryan Hartman was unavailable due to injury. Lucchini didn't play, as the Wild went with seven defensemen, but he'll replace Daemon Hunt in the lineup on Saturday. The 28-year-old has one goal in 11 career NHL games with the Senators and 20 points (9G / 11A) in 24 AHL games this season.

Lucchini was a late addition to Thursday's lineup after Ryan Hartman was deemed unable to go due to an upper-body injury. Lucchini had nine goals, 20 points, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 24 games with Iowa (AHL) and was recalled to Minnesota for the first time this season on Thursday on emergency conditions. The 28-year-old left-winger last appeared in the NHL for his one and only season in 2022-23 and had a goal, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus in 11 games played.

Parssinen will take a seat on Thursday as the Predators are opting to dress seven defensemen in Philadelphia. He has six goals and three assists in 31 games this season.

Saros will get an immediate chance at redemption after a disappointing outing on Tuesday as he is set to make his league-leading 26th start of the season. Saros saw his personal six-game winning streak come to a crashing halt against the Canucks last time out, allowing five goals on just 24 shots. The uncharacteristic outing resulted in Saros' SV% dropping to .908 on the season to go along with his 14-11-0 record. He draws a decent matchup tonight on the road against the Flyers.

Lucchini had nine goals, 20 points, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 24 games with Iowa (AHL) and has been recalled to Minnesota for the first time this season on emergency conditions. The 28-year-old left-winger last appeared in the NHL for his one and only season in 2022-23 and had a goal, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus in 11 games played.

David Jiricek will draw into the lineup on Thursday in favour of Blankenburg, who will be a healthy scratch. Blankenburg has played six games this season and has zero points while averaging 17:53 time-on-ice.