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Nashville Predators News
Jesse Saros was the first goalie off the ice at Nashville's morning skate.

Saros is the likely starter for the Predators on Tuesday as they look to extend their season-best winning streak to six games. Saros started the season playing some of the worst hockey of his career, recording a .892 SV% through 13 games (4-9-0), but seems to have levelled off to more familiar territory, posting a substantially better .920 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0). The Predators are slight -106 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has four of their last six (2-4-0).

Juuse Saros
Saros will start against the Flames on Wednesday.

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).

Juuse Saros
Juuse Saros was in the starter's crease at Wednesday's morning skate.

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).

Juuse Saros
Luke Evangelista will draw back into the Predators' lineup Wednesday vs. Calgary.

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.

Luke Evangelista
Mark Friedman will draw back into the Canucks' lineup Monday vs. San Jose.

After being a healthy scratch in favour of Noah Juulsen, Friemdan will draw back into the lineup for Juulsen to play his 14th game of the season. Friedman is averaging 12:45 time-on-ice and has one assist, 21 blocks, and 17 hits this season. He is expected to skate on the Canucks' third defensive pair with Ian Cole.

Mark Friedman
Juuse Saros will start Monday vs. Colorado.

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.

Juuse Saros
Spencer Stastney is expected to make his season debut Saturday vs. Chicago.

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.

Spencer Stastney
Mark Friedman will draw back into the Canucks' lineup Wednesday vs. the New York Islanders.

Friedman was a healthy scratch for the Canucks' previous contest but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday as Carson Soucy (foot) heads to the injured reserve. The 27-year-old defensemen has played solid since being acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade earlier this season, with one assist, six SOG, nine PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 11 games played. He is expected to pair with Noah Juulsen on Vancouver's third defensive unit Wednesday.

Mark Friedman
Saros will start Tuesday's game against the Ducks.

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).

Juuse Saros
Juuse Saros was the first goalie off the ice at Nashville's morning skate.

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).

Juuse Saros
Michael McCarron will draw back in the Predators' lineup Tuesday vs. Anaheim.

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.

Michael McCarron
Thomas Novak (upper body) has been placed on the injured reserve and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Novak's absence for the next four to six weeks will be a huge blow to the Predators as he ranked second on the team with 12 points (6G / 6A) in 14 games. Novak was a regular contributor to the Predators' top powerplay unit while regularly playing in the top six at even strength. Cody Glass will likely see his duties elevator while Novak is unavailable to play.

Tommy Novak