NASHVILLE PREDATORS NEWS

Colton Sissons - Resting Saturday Sissons (rest) will miss Saturday's game against Columbus.

Impact Nashville has secured its playoff spot, so its resting some of its players ahead of the postseason. Sissons has 15 goals and 35 points in 80 outings in 2023-24. He'll probably resume his middle-six role Monday versus Pittsburgh.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Cole Smith - Resting Saturday Smith will not play in Saturday's game versus the Blue Jackets due to roster management reasons.

Impact That has been the Predators' phrasing for when they are resting players, so it's safe to assume Smith is just getting a breather before the playoffs. The 28-year-old has no points over six games in April, and he's at 23 points, 233 hits, 111 shots on net and 63 PIM through 79 contests overall.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Juuse Saros - Starting Saturday Saros will protect the home net Saturday against Columbus, Zach Gilchriest of the Predators' official site reports.

Impact Saros has won two of his last five outings, surrendering 17 goals on 152 shots during that span. In 62 contests this campaign, he has posted a 34-23-5 record with a 2.82 GAA and a .907 save percentage. The Blue Jackets sit 26th in the league this season with 2.80 goals per game.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ G81 @ Nashville Predators NHL Hockey Trade Rumors

APRIL 13 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM

Troy Grosenick - Returned to AHL Grosenick was sent back to AHL Milwaukee on Saturday.

Impact Grosenick was brought up to back up Kevin Lankinen on Friday, with Juuse Saros getting a night off. The 34-year-old netminder will return to the AHL, where he's gone 17-7-1 with a .907 save percentage this season.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Predators bid to pick up steam vs. Blue Jackets The Nashville Predators will look to create more breathing room in the Western Conference wild-card race when they host the Columbus Blue Ja...

APRIL 13 • KANSASCITY.COM

Predators bid to pick up steam vs. Blue Jackets The Nashville Predators will look to create more breathing room in the Western Conference wild-card race when they host the Columbus Blue Ja...

APRIL 13 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Kevin Lankinen - Sharp in Friday's win Lankinen made 25 saves in Friday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

Impact The 28-year-old netminder won his first game since March 21 and saw his shutout bid slip away late in the second period on a Philipp Kurashev power-play tally. Lankinen's 2.83 GAA and .908 save percentage on the season are solid enough for a backup, but with the Predators locked into a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, he could get the start in at least one of the team's final two regular-season games as Nashville tries to get Juuse Saros some rest ahead of the playoffs.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Evangelista - Plucks two apples on power play Evangelista recorded a pair of power-play assists in Friday's 5-1 win over the Blackhawks.

Impact Evangelista was instrumental in helping Filip Forsberg to his 10th NHL hat trick. And regardless of one's allegiance to the Predators, it's tough to ignore the 22-year-old's rapid emergence as a top-six winger with No. 1 power-play responsibilities. Evangelista has fashioned 16 goals and 21 assists -- including 10 points on the power play -- through 78 contests. Next year, he'll wrap up his entry-level contract and become a restricted free agent.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Blue Jackets come into matchup with the Predators on losing streak

The Columbus Blue Jackets aim to end a three-game slide with a win over the Nashville Predators

APRIL 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Forsberg gets 10th career hat trick, sets Nashville scoring record as Predators beat Blackhawks 5-1 Filip Forsberg got his 10th career hat trick and set a Nashville franchise record with 46 goals, and the Predators beat the Chicago Blackhaw...

APRIL 13 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Filip Forsberg's 3-goal, record-setting game paces Predators past Blackhawks Filip Forsberg scored his 10th career hat trick en route to a franchise single-season goal-scoring record as the visiting Nashville Predator...

APRIL 13 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Forsberg scores hat trick, Predators cruise past Blackhawks | NHL.com Forward reaches 46 goals for season to set Nashville record

APRIL 13 • NHL.COM

Gustav Nyquist - Not playing Friday Nyquist will get a rest day Friday and miss the game in Chicago, Zach Gilchriest of the Predators' official site reports.

Impact As the Predators approach the postseason, Nyquist will get a day off during the back-to-back set. He should be back in the lineup Saturday against the Blue Jackets. Nyquist has been outstanding this season, tallying a career-high 72 points with 22 goals in 79 contests.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan McDonagh - Sitting Friday McDonagh will rest Friday against Chicago, Zach Gilchriest of the Predators' official site reports.

Impact McDonagh and Gustav Nyquist will get a breather during Nashville's back-to-back set in an attempt to stay fresh for the postseason. McDonagh has three goals and 29 points in 72 games this season but he's been held to one assist over his last 10 appearances. He's expected to suit up Saturday against Columbus.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Lankinen - Gets starting nod Lankinen will patrol the road crease versus the Blackhawks on Friday, Predators Radio Host Max Herz reports.

Impact Lankinen has been decent as the Predators' No. 2 option in 2023-24, going 10-6-0 while posting a 2.93 GAA and a .905 save percentage through 22 appearances. He'll try to pick up a road win in a favorable matchup with a Chicago team that's gone 16-19-4 at home this season.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Juuse Saros - Getting night off Saros (rest) won't dress against the Blackhawks on Friday.

Impact The Predators have clinched a playoff spot, so Saros will get the night off Friday. The 28-year-old netminder will undoubtedly see every start for Nashville in the postseason. He's gone 34-23-5 while posting a 2.82 GAA and a .907 save percentage through 62 appearances this year.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Troy Grosenick - Rises to top level Grosenick was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Friday.

Impact Grosenick's recall suggests Juuse Saros or Kevin Lankinen may be dealing with an injury. Grosenick's gone 17-7-1 while posting a 2.56 GAA and a .907 save percentage through 28 AHL appearances this year.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

With playoff spot locked up, Predators face woeful Blackhawks The Nashville Predators enter Friday night’s game at the Chicago Blackhawks coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Winnipeg Jets on...

APRIL 12 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Central Division opponents meet when Chicago hosts Nashville

The Chicago Blackhawks face the Nashville Predators in a matchup of Central Division opponents

APRIL 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tommy Novak - Scores in loss Novak scored a goal on four shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets.

Impact Novak opened the scoring 4:05 into the first period, beating Connor Hellebuyck on a partial breakaway to give the Preds an early lead. The goal is Novak's first since March 19 -- he came into Thursday with just one assist in his previous nine contests. The 26-year-old center is up to 41 points (16 goals, 24 assists) through 68 games this year, two shy of his career high set last season.

APRIL 10 • ROTOWIRE