Smith missed the Predators' previous game due to illness but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Tampa Bay as Tyson Barrie returns to being a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old left-winger is having the best season of his young career thus far with four goals, five assists, 29 SOG, 28 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 24 games played.
Dennis Gilbert will draw back into the lineup for the Flames as Oesterle will be a healthy scratch on Thursday. The 31-year-old Oesterle has zero points and a -3 plus/minus in seven games with the Flames this season.
With Erik Gudbranson missing his second straight game due to an illness, Blankenburg will make his season debut for the Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Blankenburg has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 18 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL this season.
With the news that Adam Boqvist (shoulder) has been placed on the Injured Reserve, Nick Blankenberg was recalled from Cleveland (AHL) for the first time this season. The 25-year-old defensemen appeared in 36 games for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23 and had four goals and 14 points. He had gotten off to an impressive start in the AHL so far, with three goals, 11 points, 20 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 18 games played prior to his promotion.
Smith has four goals, five assists, 29 SOG, 28 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 24 games this season but will miss Tuesday vs. Chicago due to illness and is considered day-to-day. The 28-year-old will be replaced by Tyson Barrie, who returns after a two game absence over the weekend as Nashville goes with an 11 forward, seven defensemen lineup.
Saros is the starter for the Predators on Tuesday after an exceptional performance on Sunday, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Saros has elevated his game considerably lately, winning five of his last six starts (5-1-0) and boasting an impressive .918 SV%. The Predators have a favourable matchup on Tuesday and are -179 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-3 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Saros is the likely starter for the Predators on Tuesday after an exceptional performance on Sunday, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Saros has elevated his game considerably lately, winning five of his last six starts (5-1-0) and boasting an impressive .918 SV%. The Predators have a favourable matchup on Tuesday and are -179 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-3 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0).
Saros will be back between the pipes for the Predators on Sunday after Kevin Lankinen got the call for Saturday's game against the Rangers. After a run of four consecutive victories, Saros struggled his last time out, allowing four goals on 15 shots before being lifted in favour of Lankinen in Thursday's 6-1 defeat to the Wild. He'll look to get back in the win column against a struggling Sabres team on Sunday.
Saros will start for the third straight game and look for his fifth consecutive victory as the red-hot Predators are riding a six-game winning streak. After a shaky start to the season, recording only four wins in his first 13 games (4-9-0) and a .892 SV%, Saros has looked more like himself during his current four-game winning streak, boasting a .925 SV%. The Predators are averaging 4.33 goals per game during this six-game stretch and are -115 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that ranks second-worst in the league defensively (3.80 GA / GP).
Oesterle played four games with the Flames earlier this season, going without a point, but has spent most of his time in the AHL with the Calgary Wrangler where he has eight points (0G / 8A) in 12 games. During his brief stint with the Flames, he played almost exclusively with either Dennis Gilbert or Nikita Zadorov.
Saros is the starter for the Predators on Tuesday as they look to extend their season-best winning streak to six games. Saros started the season playing some of the worst hockey of his career, recording a .892 SV% through 13 games (4-9-0), but seems to have levelled off to more familiar territory, posting a substantially better .920 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0). The Predators are slight -106 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has four of their last six (2-4-0).
Stastney appeared in the Predators' previous five games and picked up a goal, four SOG, four PIMs and a +4 plus/minus during his short showing but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Tuesday. The 23-year-old defender returns to the minors, where he had a goal and three assists in 10 games prior to his promotion.
Friedman played the last four games four the Canucks but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Cole McWard to make his season debut. Friedman most recently played alongside Tyler Myers on the team's second defensive pair and has one point (0G / 1A) in 17 games this season.
Saros is the likely starter for the Predators on Tuesday as they look to extend their season-best winning streak to six games. Saros started the season playing some of the worst hockey of his career, recording a .892 SV% through 13 games (4-9-0), but seems to have levelled off to more familiar territory, posting a substantially better .920 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0). The Predators are slight -106 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has four of their last six (2-4-0).
Saros is coming off his first victory in November thanks to heroics from his Predators teammates, who scored two goals in the final minute to overcome a 3-2 deficit and win 4-3 over the Colorado Avalanche. Through 14 games this season, Saros remarkably only has two quality starts (.357) after registering at least a .618 quality start rate in his four previous seasons. This string of poor play is unfamiliar territory for the perennial Vezina-finalist. The Predators hope his most recent victory can help jump-start Saros back into the netminder he has proven himself to be over the past half-decade. Saros and the Predators are slight -103 home underdogs against a Calgary Flames team that has scored four or more goals in three straight (2-0-1).
Vrana has played 10 consecutive games for the Blues but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Sammy Blais to draw back into the lineup. Vrana only has three points (1G / 2A) in his last 10 games but is averaging an impressive 3.0 shots on goal during that stretch.
Saros is coming off his first victory in November thanks to heroics from his Predators teammates, who scored two goals in the final minute to overcome a 3-2 deficit and win 4-3 over the Colorado Avalanche. Through 14 games this season, Saros remarkably only has two quality starts (.357) after registering at least a .618 quality start rate in his four previous seasons. This string of poor play is unfamiliar territory for the perennial Vezina-finalist. The Predators hope his most recent victory can help jump-start Saros back into the netminder he has proven himself to be over the past half-decade. Saros and the Predators are slight -103 home underdogs against a Calgary Flames team that has scored four or more goals in three straight (2-0-1).
