The Predators and Blue Jackets clash for the fourth of eight times tonight in Columbus (at 6 p.m. CT).
Nashville (6-10-0) has won two of eight games in the month of February. The Preds fell, 3-0, to the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Goaltender Juuse Saros was in net for the Predators and made 19 saves in the loss.
The Preds practiced on Friday at Nationwide Arena and were joined by forward Brad Richardson (Injured Reserve), although he did not take line rushes. Winger Yakov Trenin was the team's lone healthy scratch on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets (8-6-4) sit fifth in the Central Division and beat the Predators for the first time this season after opening the 2020-21 campaign with two losses in Nashville.
Update: Preds Head Coach John Hynes provided updates on some of Nashville's injured players on Saturday morning.
On Ryan Johansen and Brad Richardson: "Ryan Johansen is skating. He's been introduced to some light contact, so he will not be available tonight, but he is making strong progress. Brad Richardson has practiced with the team full the last couple days, so he looks like he's on his way back. He won't be available for tonight, but both of those guys have really taken good strides, which is why we brought them on the trip, and hopefully anticipating them being ready for the Detroit series possibly."
On Mattias Ekholm: "Ekholm is back skating. He's made some good progress, so his next step, I think we'd probably hopefully like to see him in practice on Monday, and then evaluate where he goes from there, but he is making good strides."
On Mathieu Olivier: "Mathieu Olivier is back at home, he is progressing, but I would say that he's a little bit ways away from coming back right away. He's got to get into some practice, into some contact, and he's not at that point yet."
Update (4 p.m. CT): The Preds have recalled forward Eeli Tolvanen from the taxi squad ahead of tonight's game.
Below is a projected lineup based on Thursday's game and Friday's practice:
Projected Lineup: Predators at Blue Jackets
Vanderbilt Health Projected Lineup: Trenin, Rinne Could Re-Enter Lineup for Predators
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