Stastney will fill in for Jeremy Lauzon, who was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. Stastney has two goals and four assists in 28 games this season.

Novak was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Fedor Svechkov will draw into the lineup in his place.

The Predators are amid a three-game losing skid, outscored 15-7, and attempt to return to the win column with Saros between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Saros is averaging a win in 50 percent of games over his career but, with an 8-16-6 record this season, is well off his usual pace, only recording a win in 27 percent of games. He has a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV% this season. The Predators enter Friday's contest as -172 road favorites against a Canucks team that defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-3 last night.

The Predators are amid a three-game losing skid, outscored 15-7, and attempt to return to the win column with Saros between the pipes on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year-old Saros is averaging a win in 50 percent of games over his career but, with an 8-16-6 record this season, is well off his usual pace, only recording a win in 27 percent of games. He has a 2.82 GAA and .903 SV% this season. The Predators enter Friday's contest as -172 road favorites against a Canucks team that defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-3 last night.

Svechkov made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring two points (2G / 0A) in nine games, but has spent most of the season in the AHL. He has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 13 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The 21-year-old Svechkov was the 19th overall pick of the Predators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Wilsby was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Justin Barron drew into the lineup in his place. The 24-year-old Wilsby has played well in his first NHL season, averaging 18:43 time-on-ice and scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 15 games.

With Jeremy Lauzon battling a lower-body injury, Stastney will draw into Nashville's lineup on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL).

Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.

Lauzon was limited to 6:19 time-on-ice in Nashville's 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and will not play on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks. It's unclear if his lower-body ailment is related to the one that kept him out of the lineup for 10 games earlier this season.

Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild exited Tuesday's contest after being slew-footed by L'Heureux and did not return to game. Spurgeon was seen leaving the arena with crutches. L'Heureux was not issued any penalties on the play. The 21-year-old L'Heureux is in his first NHL season and has nine points (4G / 5A) in 33 games.

Stastney was a fifth-round pick of the Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman played 20 games with the Predators last season, scoring four points (2G / 2A), but has exclusively played in the AHL this season. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 10 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.

Wiesblatt was the 31st overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He has 14 points (7G / 7A) in 27 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) this season.

Barron will fill in for Adam Wilsby, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Barron has just a single goal and zero assists in 19 games this season split between the Predators and Canadiens.

Wilsby was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Predators not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Justin Barron will draw into the lineup in his place.

Annunen will make just his fourth start as a Predator when Nashville travels to Minnesota to take on the Wild on New Year's Eve. Annunen has played well of late, posting a 2-0-0 record and a .945 SV% across his last three appearances. The 24-year-old netminder has seen his save percentage jump 22 points since being acquired from the Avalanche. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Tuesday, as the Preds enter action at an even +100 on the money line.

The Predators will roll with Saros between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. Saros struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% in 29 games this season (8-15-6). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Jets club leading the NHL with 26 wins.

The Predators will likely roll with Saros between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. Saros struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% in 29 games this season (8-15-6). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Jets club leading the NHL with 26 wins.

The Predators are riding a two-game winning streak and will turn to Saros between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Saros was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 28 games this season (8-14-6). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -130 road favorites against the Blues.