The red-hot Predators, riding a 13-0-2 point streak in their last 15 games, will turn to Lankinen between the pipes for only the second time in the last 10 games. Lankien has been solid when called upon, including a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in his last outing, when he saved 33 of 34 shots (.971 SV%). The Predators enter action as +159 road underdogs against the Florida Panthers.
Juuse Saros will get the night off on Tuesday as the Predators will turn to Lankinen for the first time since January 27th. Lankinen's most recent appearance came last Thursday against the Stars, when he allowed five goals on 23 shots in relief of Saros as the Predators were blown out 9-2. Lankinen owns a 6-4-0 record and an .889 SV% across 15 games this season. He draws a difficult matchup in Vegas on Tuesday, though the Predators do get the benefit of facing the Golden Knights on the tail-end of their back-to-back.
Lankinen will draw the front-end of Nashville's back-to-back in Dallas on Friday before the team travels home to host the Islanders on Saturday. Lankinen coincidentally faced the Stars his last time out, allowing three goals on 29 shots as the Predators edged a 4-3 victory. He may have a hard time producing a repeat performance on Friday with Nashville being +150 underdogs in Dallas. The Predators' backup owns a 5-3-0 record on the season along with a .901 SV% and a 3.14 GAA.
Lankinen missed Friday and Saturday's game with an illness, but was back at practice on Monday. With no back-to-back this week, it unclear if Lankinen will get a start until next week.
Lankinen, who last played on December 19th, saving 11 of 11 shots in relief of Juuse Saros, is battling an illness and will not suit up for the Predators on Wednesday. The team has recalled Yaroslav Askarov, who will serve as the backup to Saros.
The Predators are opting to defy the conventional approach to a back-to-back and give Lankinen the start on Friday, meaning Juuse Saros is likely to get the nod against the Capitals on Saturday. Lankinen took a tough-luck loss his last start on December 9th in Toronto, allowing three goals on 36 shots in the 4-0 defeat. He'll have his hands full again tonight with the Predators being +145 underdogs in Caorlina.
Lankinen takes the crease for the first time in five games after winning his previous start on November 4th in a 33 save (.943 SV%) performance over Edmonton. The 28-year-old backup has rarely been called upon this season but has been acceptable when needed with his 1-1-0 record, .900 SV%, and 3.01 GAA. He takes on the Chicago Blackhawks, who are in the middle of a two-game losing streak and are second last in the NHL in shots per game (26.1).
In the Nashville Predators' ninth game of the season, the team will finally turn to Lankinen for his first start of the year. Lankinen played 40 minutes earlier this season in relief of Juuse Saros, saving 17 of 19 shots, and is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he was a very serviceable backup for the Predators, recording a 2.75 GAA and .916 SV%. The Predators are +129 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team that is off to a terrific start this season (5-2-1), averaging 3.88 goals per game, fifth-best in the league.
In the Nashville Predators' ninth game of the season, the team will finally turn to Lankinen for his first start of the year. Lankinen played 40 minutes earlier this season in relief of Juuse Saros, saving 17 of 19 shots, and is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he was a very serviceable backup for the Predators, recording a 2.75 GAA and .916 SV%. The Predators are +129 road underdogs against a Vancouver Canucks team that is off to a terrific start this season (5-2-1), averaging 3.88 goals per game, fifth-best in the league.
