Oesterle was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday as Yan Kuznetsov will be a healthy scratch. Oesterle has two points (0G / 2A), 14 shots, and 19 hits while averaging 14:16 time-on-ice through 14 games this season.
Murray returned to backing up Scott Wedgewood on Wednesday after recording a shutout on Monday in his season debut against the Minnesota Wild. Murray has been involved in paper transactions daily since being recalled from the Texas Stars (AHL) after Jake Oettinger was injured as part of salary cap gymnastics. It is unclear if Murray's most recent demotion is permanent or if he will be recalled again ahead of their next contest as Oettinger nears his return.
Saros will return to the Predators' crease on Tuesday after getting Saturday night's game in Dallas off in favour of backup Kevin Lankinen. Saros took the loss his last time out, allowing five goals on 25 shots in a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Calgary Flames. He's endured an up-and-down season to date, posting a .901 SV% to go along with his 16-14-1 record, but he's got a great chance of getting back in the win column on Tuesday with the Predators being sizable home favourites at -225 over the Ducks.
After playing in 12 straight games, and struggling lately, Scott Wedgewood will finally get a night off on Monday as Murray will tend the twice for the Stars in his first game of the season. Murray has been with the team since mid-December when Jake Oettinger suffered a lower-body injury. The undrafted 25-year-old Murray has a 2.86 GAA and .908 SV% in 13 games (8-4-1) with the Texas Stars this season. The Stars have lost three straight (0-2-1), being outscored 13-10, but are -127 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild club without their leading scorer, Kirill Kaprizov.
Oesterle will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Nick DeSimone draws back into the lineup. Oesterle has no goals and two assists in 12 games this season.
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.
Vrana has spent most of the last month with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, scoring eight points (4G / 4A) in seven games. He has been recalled in correspondence to the Blues reassigning Nikita Alexandrov to the AHL.
The Golden Knights recalled Denisenko on Thursday and he skated on a line with Michael Amadio and Brett Howden at practice, signalling he could make his season debut on Thursday. in 31 games with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL, Denisenko has 30 points (12G / 18A) and 26 penalty minutes.
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.
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).
