Saros will start his fifth straight game for the Predators on Monday evening. After allowing five goals in a back-to-back game, Saros has limited the opposition to three or fewer goals in four straight contests (2-2-0), posting a stellar .928 SV%. The Predators are +110 home underdogs against a reeling Panthers club that has lost four straight (0-2-2) immediately after a nine-game winning streak.
Barron played the last three games for the Canadiens, averaging over 14 minutes of time-on-ice, but has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Barron has 12 points (6G / 6A), 37 hits, and 51 blocks in 41 games with the Canadiens this season.
Friedman has regularly been a healthy scratch the last two months, resulting in him being loaned to the Abbotsford Canucks on a conditioning loan last week. He participated in Vancouver's practice on Monday as an extra defenseman.
Cody Glass and Juuso Parssinen will be healthy scratches on Monday, allowing McCarron and Philip Tomasino to draw into the lineup. McCarron is expected to play on the fourth line with Tomasino and Cole Smith.
Lucchini was recalled from Iowa (AHL) on Saturday and will immediately draw into the lineup in place of the injured Connor Dewar (lower-body). Lucchini is yet to register a point in four games with the Wild this season.
Blankenburg has been out since December 19th but will return to the ice in the AHL. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets recalled David Jiriceck from Cleveland.
Annunen made his season debut on Tuesday, allowing Alexandar Georgiev to have a long overdue night off, saving 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators. Annunen will return to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, where he has a 2.62 GAA and .908 SV% in 18 games (9-5-4).
McCarron will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Cody Glass will draw back into the Predators' lineup. McCarron has six goals and five assists in 34 games this season.
Saros will make his 35th start of the season on Thursday as the Predators travel to Los Angeles to take on the Kings. Saros took the loss his last time out, allowing three goals on 28 shots as the Predators fell to the Golden Knights by a score of 4-1. It was another dip in performance in what's been uncharacteristically up-and-down season for Nashville's number-one netminder. Saros owns a 17-16-1 record on the season to go along with a .900 SV% and a 3.02 GAA. He and the Preds are slight underdogs in Los Angeles on Thursday at +125.
Johnathan Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Barron to re-enter the lineup. Barron has sat out the last two games for the Canadiens but has been a lineup regular for most of the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) and registering 51 blocks in 38 games.
Potentially a paper transaction as the Stars do not play until Thursday, Murray has been loaned back to the Texas Stars (AHL). Scott Wedgewood's return appears to be on the horizon, but if he can't suit up as the Stars' backup on Thursday, expect Murray to be recalled ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Annunen will make his first start of the season on Tuesday as the Avalanche prepare to play their second game in as many nights. Annunen has struggled in his four NHL appearances to date, though he has managed to post a 2-1-1 record despite an .859 SV% and a 3.92 GAA. He owns a 9-5-4 record and a .908 SV% in 18 games this season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). He'll take on the Senators and Mads Sogaard, who is also making his season debut in goal on Tuesday.
After a sizeable stint with the Dallas Stars, Murray was sent down to Texas (AHL) as Jake Oettinger (lower-body) finally made his return to the lineup, only to be recalled once again as Scott Wedgewood was injured in his previous outing. Murray played one game with Dallas, an impressive 23-save shutout victory over the Minnesota Wild less than two weeks ago.
With Ivan Prosvetov (undisclosed) unavailable, Annunen will get the chance to serve as Alexandar Georgiev's backup. Annunen has two NHL appearances under his belt this season, posting an .854 SV% and a 3.58 GAA.
