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Saros is slated to start Tuesday's road game against Toronto, Max Herz of 102.5 The Game Nashville reports.
Saros started the Predators' first two games of the season, and he's coming off a home win over the Stars on Saturday in which he turned aside 29 of 30 shots. He made one start against the Maple Leafs last year, allowing three goals on 22 shots during a Dec. 20 victory at home.
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Predators' Matt Murray: Heading back to Nashville
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Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Murray's move back to the majors Tuesday was in correspondence to Justus Annunen (undisclosed) being placed on injured reserve. The 28-year-old netminder served as the backup for Juuse Saros in Nashville's 2-1 win over the Stars on Saturday before being sent back to Milwaukee. Murray posted solid numbers in the 2025-26 regular season with the Admirals, compiling a 22-22-2 record, four shutouts, a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage. During his stint in the majors, he'll likely appear in his first NHL game since the 2023-24 season.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Placed on injured reserve
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The Predators placed Annunen (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Annunen missed Saturday's game against Dallas due to an undisclosed injury, and while he was initially considered day-to-day, he'll be required to miss at least a week after landing on injured reserve. Matt Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Tuesday to provide additional depth behind Juuse Saros while Annunen is sidelined.
Predators' Vitali Pinchuk: Heading back to Music City
Rotowire
Pinchuk was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Sunday.
Pinchuk played for the Admirals in Saturday's contest before he was called back up to the majors ahead of the Predators' three-game week. He nearly made Nashville Opening Night roster after he posted an effective season with KHL Minsk in 2025-26, compiling 31 goals and 66 points across 65 regular-season outings. His move to the majors in the regular season displays that the Predators want to find a role for him in the 2026-27 campaign, but it remains to be seen if his role will warrant any fantasy relevance this season.
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Predators' Matt Murray: Returned to AHL
Rotowire
Murray was assigned to AHL Milwaukee on Sunday.
Nashville brought up forward Vitali Pinchuk from the minors in a corresponding move. Due to the absence of Justus Annunen (undisclosed), Murray served as Juuse Saros' backup in Saturday's 2-1 win over Dallas. Murray's demotion to the AHL could bode well for Annunen's availability for Tuesday's road matchup against Toronto.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Impressive in win over Dallas
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Saros stopped 29 of 30 shots in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Stars.
Saros surrendered a goal to Miro Heiskanen just 47 seconds into the contest but was perfect the rest of the way, protecting a one-goal advantage for more than 44 minutes after Nils Hoglander put Nashville ahead late in the first period. The 30-year-old finished with a .967 save percentage and shut down Dallas over the final two periods as the Predators bounced back from their season-opening loss to Detroit -- a game in which Saros stopped 27 of 30 shots. In two contests in 2026-27, the veteran goaltender has stopped 56 of 60 shots faced, good for a 93.3 percent save percentage.
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Predators' Nils Hoglander: Nets game-winner Saturday
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Hoglander scored a power-play goal on two shots in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Stars.
Hoglander broke a 1-1 tie at 15:49 of the first period when Jack Ahcan's point shot deflected into the net off his skate at the top of the crease. The tally, which ultimately stood as the game-winner, was Hoglander's first goal -- and point -- since joining Nashville in an offseason trade from Vancouver. Hoglander has surpassed the 25-point mark just twice in his previous six seasons in the NHL, so he isn't expected to be a massive fantasy contributor in most formats despite his top-six role.
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Predators' Steven Stamkos: Scores power-play goal Saturday
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Stamkos scored a power-play goal on four shots in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Stars.
Stamkos tied the game for the Predators with a one-timer from the left circle at 4:46 of the first period, just under four minutes after Miro Heiskanen opened the scoring for Dallas. The tally was Stamkos' 625th career goal, moving him into a tie with Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla for 17th on the NHL's all-time list. Stamkos has opened the 2026-27 season with points in back-to-back games after he delivered an assist in the 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 1.
Saros will protect the home goal versus the Stars on Saturday, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Saros lost his season debut Thursday versus the Wild, allowing three goals on 30 shots. The 31-year-old netminder could be set for a longer run of starts while Justus Annunen (undisclosed) is out. Saros will be backed up by Matt Murray in Saturday's contest, which sees the Stars come to Nashville on the second half of their back-to-back.
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Predators' Justus Annunen: Unavailable Saturday
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Annunen (undisclosed) will miss Saturday's game against Dallas.
Annunen is day-to-day, so it remains to be seen if he'll be an option Tuesday in Toronto. Matt Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Saturday and will serve as the backup goaltender versus the Stars. Juuse Saros will get the start. Annunen hasn't played yet this season, but he had a 10-12-2 record, 2.68 GAA and .906 save percentage in 28 regular-season appearances with Nashville in 2025-26.
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Predators' Matt Murray: Summoned from AHL
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Murray was recalled from AHL Milwaukee on Saturday.
Murray posted a 22-22-2 record with a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 47 AHL regular-season games for Nashville's top minor-league affiliate in 2025-26. Justus Annunen didn't participate in Friday's practice and might not be available for Saturday's home matchup against Dallas.
Josi scored a goal on three shots and added two hits in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Wild.
Josi scored midway through the second period, but that was all Nashville could muster against Jesper Wallstedt. The 36-year-old Josi is once again poised to serve as the Predators' top blueliner. He produced 55 points, 181 shots on net, 101 blocked shots and a minus-15 rating over 68 appearances in 2025-26. While age-related regression is a risk, some of Josi's best work has come since he entered his 30s, though staying healthy will be an important factor in his production.
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Predators' Ryan Ufko: Sent down Friday
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Ufko was assigned to AHL Milwaukee on Friday.
Ufko made 18 regular-season appearances with the Predators last year and was with the NHL club for Thursday's Opening Night matchup against the Wild. He was held scoreless with a shot on goal, a blocked shot and a minus-1 rating in 15:27 of ice time, but he'll head to the minors a day later. Despite his demotion Friday, it wouldn't be surprising to see Ufko carve out more regular playing time at the NHL level during the 2026-27 campaign.
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Predators' Juuse Saros: Gets little help in Thursday's loss
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Saros made 27 saves in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Wild.
The veteran netminder got little help from his offense or his defense, as the Predators got out-shot 30-20 on the night. Saros has seen his ratios decline the last few years along with his team's fortunes, but he still figures to get a big enough workload to win 20-plus games for a seventh straight season. Nashville doesn't play back-to-back games until Oct. 24-25, so Saros could get leaned on heavily over the first few weeks of the schedule.
Saros will get the starting nod at home against the Wild on Thursday, Max Herz of 102.5 The Game Nashville reports.
Saros will get the Opening Night start, which shouldn't come as a surprise considering he featured 59 times during the regular season last year. In those outings, the 31-year-old backstop went 28-22-8 with a career-worst 3.16 GAA. Despite the underwhelming numbers, Saros remains the unquestioned No. 1 option in Music City and could top the 60-game mark for the first time since 2023-24.
