Annunen will get a surprise start on Thursday, as starter Juuse Saros is unavailable due to an upper-body injury. Annunen was unfortunate to take the loss in his last start, allowing two goals on 29 shots in a 3-1 loss in Edmonton on Sunday. The 25-year-old netminder owns a 6-9-2 record and an .888 SV% on the season. Annunen and the Predators enter action on Thursday at -135 on the money line.
The Predators are on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Tuesday, so they will turn to backup netminder Justus Annunen between the pipes. Annunen turned in a solid performance in his last start, stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced in a 4-2 win over the Blackhawks on Thursday. The 25-year-old carries a 6-7-2 record and an .885 SV% into Tuesday night's matchup, where the Preds enter action at +115 on the money line.
The Predators are giving Juuse Saros an extra night off after his busy Olympic break, so it will be Annunen between the pipes on Thursday. Annunen's last start came back on February 5th when he allowed four goals on 30 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Capitals. The 25-year-old netminder has appeared in 18 games this season, registering a 5-7-2 record and an .884 SV%. The Preds enter action on Thursday at -175 on the money line.
Annunen played well in relief of Juuse Saros in Monday's 6-5 win over the St. Louis Blues, saving all 13 shots he faced, and will return to the crease on Thursday in the tail end of a back-to-back. The 25-year-old Annunen has seen limited action lately, but has been serviceable when called upon, posting a 2.44 GAA and .918 SV% in nine appearances (4-2-1) since the beginning of December. The Predators enter Thursday's contest as +142 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team whose three-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Annunen was solid in his previous outing, saving all 13 shots he faced in relief of Juuse Saros in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old Annunen has seen limited action in recent weeks, but has been mostly serviceable when called upon, posting a 2.61 GAA and .912 SV% in seven appearances (3-2-0). The Predators enter the action on Thursday as +112 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).
Annunen has not played since New Year’s Eve, when he was stellar in a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%). The 25-year-old goalie returns to the crease on Sunday, looking to improve his 3.29 GAA and .875 SV% through 12 appearances (3-5-1).
Annunen was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but they traded him to Nashville last season. Since joining the Predators, the 25-year-old goalie has a 3.21 GAA and .884 SV% in 35 combined appearances (12-16-2).
Annunen has only played once in over two weeks, but he will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 25-year-old Annunen has been unreliable most of the season, but was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 16 of 17 shots (.941 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers. He has a 3.43 GAA and .866 SV% in 11 games (2-5-1).
After a disastrous 8-3 loss to Florida on Monday, Nashville will turn to their back up goaltender Justus Annunen in Detroit on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has been horrendous so far in 2025-26, with his 0-3-1 record, 4.07 GAA and .836 SV%. He will head to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Wednesday, who have won three of their last five games and currently rank 4th in the NHL in SOG (30.2).
The Predators will hand Annunen just his third start of the season when they travel to Minnesota for their second game in as many nights on Tuesday. Annunen's last appearance came in a 3-2 loss to the Stars on October 26th, when he allowed three goals on 27 shots. The 25-year-old netminder has failed to impress over parts of two seasons in Nashville, posting an .884 SV% and a 9-13-1 record in 25 appearances. The Predators enter action on Tuesday at +185 on the money line.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a day after a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, Nashville will turn to Annunen for his first start of the season. The 25-year-old Annunen posted a 3.17 GAA and .888 SV% in 23 appearances with the Predators (9-11-1) last season after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators enter the action on Tuesday as +156 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a day after a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, Nashville will turn to Annunen for his first start of the season. The 25-year-old Annunen posted a 3.17 GAA and .888 SV% in 23 appearances with the Predators (9-11-1) last season after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators enter the action on Tuesday as +156 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team off to a 1-2-0 start to the 2025-26 season.
