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.
Haula was a surprising contributor for Team Finland at the Olympics, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in six games to help them win a Bronze Medal. Still, he may not be ready to play when Nashville returns to action on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 34-year-old Haula has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 57 games with the Predators this season.
Saros was excellent for Team Finland at the Olympics, helping them win a Bronze Medal, but he may not be ready to suit up when Nashville returns to action on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Saros has not had the same success at the NHL level this season and was particularly struggling heading into the Olympic break, allowing three or more goals in nine consecutive appearances (4-2-2) while posting an ugly 4.31 GAA and .875 SV%.
Murray has not seen any NHL action this season and will resume his 2025-26 campaign with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The undrafted 28-year-old goalie has a 2.86 GAA and .904 SV% in 29 games (12-14-2) with Milwaukee this season.
Lucchini has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL but has impressed, earning himself a one-year, two-way contract extension after scoring 38 points (13G / 25A) in 48 games with the Milwaukee Admirals. The undrafted 30-year-old forward played three games with the Predators last season and has six points (3G / 3A) in 54 career NHL games.
Saros was not very sharp in Finland's tournament opening loss to Slovakia, allowing three goals on 24 shots. That will not discourage Finland from coming back to their No.1 goalie in a massive game vs. Their rivals from Sweden. Saros and Finland enter the game as +160 underdogs.
Saros will start Finland's tournament opener vs. Slovakia and is expected to be their No.1 throughout the tournament. Saros and the Finns are large -410 favourites in their opener, but it's been far from an ideal season for the Predators' netminder. Saros is 21-17-5 with a 3.20 GAA, .892 SV% and 50.0 QualityStart% in the NHL. Last year, Saros struggled at the 4Nations, but was 4-2-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .943 SV% at the World Championships where Finland finished seventh.
Barron will slot into the lineup on Thursday as the Predators opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Nick Blankenburg will sit in his place.
Wood was reassigned to able to spend the Olympic break playing in AHL games for the Admirals. The 2023 first-rounder has nine goals and eight assists in 46 games this season.
Wiesblatt has not played the past two games for the Predators, but he will return to the lineup in their final game before the Olympic break. The 23-year-old forward is averaging 10:28 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 29 games this season.
Schaefer will immediately draw into the lineup after being recalled earlier in the day. The 22-year-old, a first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 21 games with Milwaukee (AHL) this season.
It's unclear at this time whether Wiesblatt is dealing with an undisclosed injury or if he's simply a healthy scratch. Reid Schaefer will take his spot in the lineup.
Barron will take a seat in favour of Nicolas Hague, who returns from a lower-body injury. Barron has zero goals and five assists in 31 games this season.
Hague was a surprise addition to Nashville's lineup on Wednesday with the team not announcing his return prior to warmups. Hague has two goals and nine assists in 41 games this season.
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.
Saros had a rough performance in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 21 shots (.762 SV%) before being replaced by Justus Annunen in the second period of a game that Nashville rallied back into with a 6-5 victory. The 30-year-old Saros has improved after a miserable 2024-25 season, but is currently battling through a rough stretch, allowing three or more goals in eight consecutive games (5-2-1), posting an ugly 4.10 GAA and .877 SV%. The Predators enter Wednesday's contest as +106 home underdogs against the Minnesota Wild, who hold the best record in the NHL since the beginning of November (30-8-7).
