Nashville Predators News

Annunen has emerged as the most reliable option in the crease for the Avalanche but has allowed seven goals on 53 shots (.868 SV%) in his last two games (1-1-0) and will need a strong outing on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken to solidify his position. In seven appearances this season (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Annunen has a serviceable 2.58 GAA and .899 SV%, which are more impressive when considering the Avalanche allow a league-worst 4.25 goals per game. Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -175 home favorites against a Seattle club riding a three-game losing skid.

The Predators are still struggling to live up to expectations after a busy offseason but, after losing their first five, have started to find their footing, winning four of their last six (4-1-1). Saros will start for the fourth straight game after an impressive performance in his previous outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.92 GAA and .900 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Predators enter the action on Monday as -140 home favorites against the Los Angeles Kings.

The Predators are still struggling to live up to expectations after a busy offseason but, after losing their first five, have started to find their footing, winning four of their last six (4-1-1). Saros will likely start for the fourth straight game after an impressive performance in his previous outing, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.92 GAA and .900 SV% in nine games this season (3-5-1). The Predators enter the action on Monday as -140 home favorites against the Los Angeles Kings.

Barron played 10:52 in Thursday's loss in Washington and will come out of the lineup Saturday in Pittsburgh. Arber Xhekaj will draw back into the lineup to replace him.

Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old has not played an NHL game yet and has two points (0G / 2A) in six AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals this season.

The Predators will unsurprisingly turn to their franchise netminder when they welcome the Connor McDavid-less Oilers to Nashville on Thursday. Saros got stuck with the loss his last time out, allowing three goals on 27 shots in a 3-2 overtime defeat at the hands of the Lightning. The 10-year-veteran now owns a 2-4-1 record on the season along with a .905 SV%. Saros is a decent bet to get back in the win column tonight as Nashville enters action as slight favourites at -130.

Barron has not played since October 22nd, missing three games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

Perbix will be the odd-man out on Wednesday when the Lightning travel to Denver. He's registered zero goals and three assists in seven games this season. Darren Raddysh will draw into the lineup in his place.

With Kaapo Kahkonen making his Avalanche debut and Alexandar Georgiev backing up on Wednesday, Justus Annunen finds himself as the odd man out of Colorado's goaltending trio vs. Tampa Bay. Annunen has nothing to worry about after starting the season as Colorado's best goaltender with his 4-1-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .905 SV%. He is expected to be dressed for their next contest.

Colton played 15:00 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Colton was seen leaving the arena in a walking boot after the game and is expected to be out of the lineup for 6-8 weeks. The 28-year-old Colton was leading Colorado with eight goals in 10 games and is another loss for an Avalanche club decimated with early-season injuries.

Barron has not played the last three games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return and will be traveling with the team. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

Colton was injured in Monday's loss and is expected to "miss some time," so it's not surprising to see him land on IR to open up a spot on the Avalanche roster for Wednesday's game. It's unclear whether Artturi Lehkonen or Jonathan Drouin are ready to make their returns to replace Colton or if they will need to recall a forward from the AHL.

Colton played 15:00 time-on-ice before exiting Monday's 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Colton was seen leaving the arena in a walking boot after the game and is expected to be out of the lineup for an extended period of time.

Saros will be back between the pipes for the Predators on Monday after Scott Wedgewood got the nod in the tail-end of their back-to-back on Saturday. After a slow start, Saros is coming off his best two games of the season, going 2-0-0 with a .968 SV% and a shutout over his last two appearances. His strong performance of late has improved his SV% and GAA on the year to .908 and 2.74, respectively. He will need to be at his best again on Monday as the Predators enter action as +115 underdogs in Tampa Bay.

Colton exited Thursday's 5-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club with an upper-body injury after 11:07 time-on-ice. Colton managed a goal before his exit, his seventh in eight games to start the season. Despite not practicing on Saturday, he will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.