Struble has not played since Game 7 vs. the Lightning, sitting out the entire second-round vs. Buffalo. Struble is expected to replace Arber Xhekaj in the lineup for Game 1 in Carolina. Struble has not picked up a point in seven playoff games this season or in nine career playoff games.
Sam Malinski is unavailable due to an upper-body injury and Nick Blankenburg is a healthy scratch, giving Ahcan the opportunity to draw in. He’ll skate with Josh Manson on the Avs’ third pair.
Arber Xhekaj will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 10:46 time-on-ice, recording a +3 plus/minus and 21 hits through seven games this postseason.
With Nils Lundkvist (upper body) out for Game 5, Lyubushkin will draw into the lineup for his postseason debut. The 32-year-old Lyubushkin spent portions of the season playing alongside Thomas Harley and will likely suit up next to him when he enters the lineup. In 53 games this season, Lyubushkin averaged 15:44 time-on-ice and scored nine points (1G / 8A).
Pinchuk is an undrafted 24-year-old forward that has spent the previous five seasons in the KHL. In 2025-26, Pinchuk scored 66 points (31G / 35A) in 65 games with Minsk Dynamo (KHL).
Colton was surprisingly a healthy scratch in each of the first two games of Colorado's round one series against the Kings, but will draw into the lineup on Thursday in place of Joel Kiviranta. Colton appeared n 73 regular season games for the Avs, tallying nine goals and 15 assists.
Wiesblatt will draw into the lineup on Thursday alongside Kevin Gravel. They'll slot in for Roman Josi and Jonathan Marchessault who will get the night off for Nashville's season finale.
Marchessault was a surprise scratch on Thursday as he and Roman Josi will get the night off for the Preds season finale. Kevin Gravel and Ozzy Wiesblatt will slot into the lineup in their place.
Josi was a surprise scratch on Thursday as he and Jonathan Marchessault will get the night off for the Preds season finale. Kevin Gravel and Ozzy Wiesblatt will slot into the lineup in their place.
The Predators will turn to Saros between the pipes for the 59th time this season when they host the Ducks in their regular season finale on Thursday. Nashville's long-time number-one netminder ceded playing time to the red-hot Justus Annunen down the stretch, serving as the back-up in each of the team's last two games. Saros brings a 28-21-8 record and an .894 SV% into Thursday night's finale, where the Preds enter action at +105 on the money line.
O'Hara was a fourth-round pick, 114th overall, in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward has spent the previous three seasons playing collegiate hockey with UMass-Amherst (H-East), including scoring 51 points (22G / 29A) in 40 games in 2024-25. He has 44 points (19G / 25A) this season in 65 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).
Ahcan has played the last two games for the Avalanche, but will return to the Eagles (AHL) to assist them on their playoff run. In 11 games with the Avalanche this season, the 28-year-old defenseman recorded two assists and averaged 11:32 time-on-ice.
Nieminen was Nashville's 2025 6th round pick (163rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday with Nashville. The 20-year-old Finnish defensemen spent all of 2025-26 with Pelicans (Liiga) and had five goals, and 17 points in 47 games in his second season of professional hockey in Finland.
Annunen has surprisingly outplayed Juuse Saros in the past few weeks, and with zero margin for error remaining in Nashville's season, they will turn to Annunen on Monday in a must-win game against the San Jose Sharks to keep their playoff hopes alive. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Since mid-March, Annunen has an outstanding 1.59 GAA and .949 SV% in seven games (4-3-0). The Predators enter Monday's contest as -146 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has lost three straight (0-2-1), severely hampering their playoff hopes.
Fink was a seventh round pick of the Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward played three years of collegiate hockey with Pennsylvania State University, and recently made his professional debut in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, where he has 10 points (3G / 7A) in six games.
Annunen has surprisingly outplayed Juuse Saros in the past few weeks, and with zero margin for error remaining in Nashville's season, they will turn to Annunen on Monday in a must-win game against the San Jose Sharks to keep their playoff hopes alive. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 21 of 22 shots (.955 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Since mid-March, Annunen has an outstanding 1.59 GAA and .949 SV% in seven games (4-3-0). The Predators enter Monday's contest as -146 home favourites against a San Jose Sharks team that has lost three straight (0-2-1), severely hampering their playoff hopes.
