Lauzon was limited to 6:19 time-on-ice in Nashville's 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and will not play on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. It's unclear if his lower-body ailment is related to the one that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games earlier this season.
Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild exited Tuesday's contest after being slew-footed by L'Heureux and did not return to game. Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. The 21-year-old L'Heureux is in his first NHL season and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 33 games.
Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.
Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Barron will fill in for Adam Wilsby, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Barron has just a single goal and zero assists in 19 games this season split between the Predators and Canadiens.
Wilsby was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Justin Barron will draw into the lineup in his place.
Annunen will make just his fourth start as a Predator when Nashville travels to Minnesota to take on the Wild on New Year's Eve. Annunen has played well of late, posting a 2-0-0 record and a .945 SV% across his last three appearances. The 24-year-old netminder has seen his save percentage jump 22 points since being acquired from the Avalanche. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Tuesday, as the Preds enter action at an even +100 on the money line.
The Predators will roll with Saros between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. Saros struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% in 29 games this season (8-15-6). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Jets club leading the NHL with 26 wins.
The Predators will likely roll with Saros between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. Saros struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% in 29 games this season (8-15-6). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Jets club leading the NHL with 26 wins.
The Predators are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Saros between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Saros was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 28 games this season (8-14-6). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -130 road favorites against the Blues.
The Predators are riding a two-game winning streak and will likely turn to Saros between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Saros was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 28 games this season (8-14-6). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -130 road favorites against the Blues.
It's a tough break for the Predators' fourth liner, who likely won't be back until the middle of February. Justin Barron is expected to make his Preds debut in Smith's place as Nashville opts to dress seven defencemen against the Hurricanes on Monday.
Saros will make his league-leading 28th start of the season when the Predators host the Hurricanes on Monday. Saros struggled his last time out, surrendering five goals on just 20 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins. Despite owning a respectable .907 SV% on the year, Nashville's franchise netminder leads the NHL in both regulation and overtime losses with 14 and six, respectively. Saros and the Preds enter action on Monday as slight underdogs at +106 on the money line.
Barron was acquired in a trade that sent Alexandre Carrier to the Nashville Predators last week. The 23-year-old Barron, a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, had 13 goals and 18 assists in just 109 career games spread out across parts of four seasons with Montreal.
Gravel played three of the last four games for the Predators but has been assigned to Milwaukee (AHL). The 32-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A) in 20 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Del Gaizo was placed on waivers Thursday afternoon and still suited up for the Predators in the evening, recording 14:38 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Del Gaizo has three points (0G / 3A), 28 blocks, and 35 hits in 21 games this season.
