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).
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).
Fabbro has two goals, three assists, 19 SOG, six PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus in 16 games played this season but will be the odd man out of the Predators' lineup Wednesday vs. Calgary. The 25-year-old defenseman will be replaced by Ryan McDonagh (injury) in Nashville's lineup.
Evangelista was a surprising healthy scratch on Monday but will return to the lineup on Wednesday and skate alongside Kiefer Sherwood and Juuso Parssinen on the Predators' second line. Evangelista has nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games this season, averaging 15:02 time-on-ice.
The Predators' last two wins have come with Kevin Lankinen between the pipes as a struggling Saros will return to the crease on Monday. Saros has not been the elite goaltender the hockey world has become accustomed to over the past half-decade this season, highlighted by allowing 21 goals on 149 shots (.859 SV%) during a season-worst five-game losing streak (0-5-0). The Predators are +146 home underdogs against an Avalanche team that has won three straight games, outscoring their opposition 19-6.
Evangelista has a goal, eight assists, 27 SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in 16 games this season but will be a surprisingly healthy scratch Monday vs. Colorado. The 21-year-old right-winger will be replaced by Liam Foudy in the Predators' lineup Monday.
Jake Oettinger started the last three games for the Stars (2-1-0), allowing three or more goals in each, capped off by allowing five unanswered goals in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. As a result, Pete DeBoer and the Stars coaching staff have opted to rest Oettinger in Monday's contest against the New York Rangers, as Wedgewood will start for the fifth time this season. Wedgewood has been solid when called upon, posting a 3.02 GAA and .917 SV% through four games this season (3-1-0). That said, the Rangers have been tough to beat this season, winning 10 of their last 11 (10-0-1) while scoring four or more goals in five consecutive games (5-0-0).
Stastney is expected to play his ninth career NHL game, his first of the season, on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Predators' fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.
Del Gaizo had three assists, three SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through five games this season to start his NHL career but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Thursday. The 24-year-old returns to the Admirals, where he had an assist and two PIMs in five games prior to his promotion.
Saros will get the chance to redeem himself on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks after some uncharacteristically poor play in November. Saros has yet to win this month (0-4-0) and has allowed three or more goals in each game, posting an awful .860 SV%. Saros has never posted a sub- .914 SV% but is well below his career averages this season with a 3.24 GAA and .894 SV%. Despite his struggles, Saros and the Predators remain -173 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that ranks in the bottom half of the league offensively (3.14 GF / GP).
Saros will likely get the chance to redeem himself on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks after some uncharacteristically poor play in November. Saros has yet to win this month (0-4-0) and has allowed three or more goals in each game, posting an awful .860 SV%. Saros has never posted a sub- .914 SV% but is well below his career averages this season with a 3.24 GAA and .894 SV%. Despite his struggles, Saros and the Predators remain -173 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that ranks in the bottom half of the league offensively (3.14 GF / GP).
Tomasino has a goal, an assist, six SOG, two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through eight games but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Anaheim. The 22-year-old centre will head to the press box as Michael McCarron takes his spot on the Predators' fourth line.
McCarron has been a healthy scratch for the Predators' last game but will be back in Nashville's lineup Tuesday vs. Anaheim. The 28-year-old has a goal, an assist, four SOG and a +2 plus/minus in five games this season and will take over for Philip Tomasino on the Predators' fourth line.