The Nashville Predators (27-41-8, 62 points) look to avoid a sixth straight loss as they host the Montreal Canadiens (37-30-9, 83 points) Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators are coming off a winless three-game road trip, most recently dropping a 5-1 decision to the Dallas Stars Thursday. The Canadiens, who currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, have won three straight heading into Sunday’s game.
Michael Bunting, Nashville Predators
Bunting-O’Reilly-EvangelistaForsberg-Stamkos-L’HeureuxSmith-McCarron-WoodBellows-SvechkovSkjei-BlankenburgDel Gaizo-BarronEnglund-OesterleStastneySarosAnnunenExtra: Marchessault (day-to-day, lower-body), Sissons (week-to-week, upper-body)
IR: Josi, Wilsby, Lauzon
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The Predators will ice 11 forwards and seven defensemen against Montreal. Defenseman Spencer Stastney, who missed Thursday’s game against Dallas and was listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, returns to the lineup, while Colton Sissons (week-to-week) and Jonathan Marchessault (day-to-day) remain out with lower-body injuries.
Matthew Wood, the Predators’ first-round pick (No. 15 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, will make his NHL debut with Nashville just over one week after signing his three-year, entry-level contract upon the conclusion of his final collegiate season at the University of Minnesota.
Juuse Saros will get the start in goal for the Predators after being pulled from his last start after two periods in Tuesday’s 8-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Head coach Andrew Brunette, who is away from the team while he attends to a family matter, is replaced behind the bench by assistant coach Todd Richards.
Nashville scored first in this one, when Filip Forsberg forced a turnover in the offensive zone and found Steven Stamkos for the snipe at the 4:19 mark of the first period.
Michael McCarron appeared to score Nashville’s second goal of the game approximately three minutes later, but a successful goaltender interference call by the Canadiens determined that Nick Blankenburg had in fact made contact with Jakub Dobes and the goal was waved off.
