Nashville Predators News

Wiesblatt will slot back into the lineup on Thursday in place of Joakim Kemell. Wiesblatt has one goal and four assists in 38 games this season.

Kemell will be the odd-man out when the Predators host the Devils on Thursday. Ozzy Wiesblatt will dress in his place.

While Juuse Saros was out with a lower-body injury for several games last week, Annunen shone for the Predators and proved himself to be a reliable option between the pipes. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him a stellar 2.34 GAA and .921 SV% in 15 appearances since the beginning of December (7-5-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).

While Juuse Saros was out with a lower-body injury for several games last week, Annunen shone for the Predators and proved himself to be a reliable option between the pipes. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him a stellar 2.34 GAA and .921 SV% in 15 appearances since the beginning of December (7-5-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).

Saros was solid on Sunday, returning from a two-game absence due to a lower-body injury, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie had a largely disappointing season, but has played better since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.70 GAA and .909 SV% in eight games (4-2-2). The Predators enter Tuesday's contest as -140 home favourites against a struggling San Jose Sharks team that has been outscored 21-8 during a four-game losing streak (0-4-0).

Svechkov, currently in his second NHL season, was the 19th-overall pick of the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward is averaging 11:56 time-on-ice and has 13 points (3G / 10A) in 58 games this season.

Annunen stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Predators win over the Kraken on Thursday. With Juuse Saros stilled day-to-day, Annunen will make his second consecutive start. Annunen hasn't played much, but he's been really good when called upon since the beginning of February, going 3-3-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .919 SV%.

Saros did not dress in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. That said, he was back at practice on Friday, but did not stay for the entirety of it. Predators' Head Coach Andrew Brunette indicated he was unsure who will be tending the twine when the team returns to the ice on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Juuse Saros (upper-body) is unavailable for Thursday's game against the Kraken, so the Preds recalled Murray to serve as Justus Annunen's backup. Murray is yet to appear in an NHL game this season. He owns a 17-17-2 record and a .908 SV% across 37 AHL starts.