Novak provided an assist in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Wild.
Novak ended a seven-game drought with the helper. That stretch includes his two-game absence due to an upper-body injury to begin January. The 27-year-old forward has remained in a bottom-six role lately, as Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly have functioned as top-six centers. Novak has just 10 points with 61 shots on net and a minus-2 rating over 36 appearances.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Projected to play in Winnipeg
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Head coach Andrew Brunette said that he expects Novak (upper body) will be able to play in Tuesday's road matchup against the Jets, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Novak missed back-to-back games in Vancouver and Calgary due to his injury. The left-shot center will most likely fill a bottom-six role against the Jets on Tuesday. The 27-year-old has contributed five goals and four helpers over 31 appearances this season.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Likely out Saturday
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Novak (upper body) isn't expected to play Saturday against the Flames, Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville reports.
Novak sat out the Predators' 3-0 win over Vancouver due to the injury, and it appears he'll likely miss at least one more contest. With Novak unavailable, Fedor Svechkov will likely remain in Nashville's bottom six.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Won't be available Friday
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Novak (upper body) won't play Friday versus the Canucks.
Fedor Svechkov was called up Friday, and it appears Novak's injury is the reason why the Predators needed a forward. Novak will miss at least one game and is considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's contest in Calgary.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Pockets helper Monday
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Novak earned an assist in Monday's 5-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Novak has generated five points over his last seven contests, though he's now gone five games without a goal. The 27-year-old forward is up to nine points, 50 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 28 appearances. Novak was listed as the third-line center Monday but saw a reduced role with the Predators dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen. The team has struggled to score this year, making depth players like Novak risky options for fantasy managers.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Finds twine in Thursday's win
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Novak scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Stars.
Novak has scored in back-to-back games, though his ice time could be set to drop soon. Ryan O'Reilly returned from a lower-body injury Thursday and looks set to fill a second-line role moving forward, which would leave Novak as the third-line center unless he moves to the wing. The 27-year-old has five goals, one assist, 42 shots on net and 10 blocked shots over 23 appearances this season, so he hasn't done much to earn a larger role despite recording at least 43 points in each of the previous two campaigns.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Ends goal drought Tuesday
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Novak scored a goal in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Flames.
Novak recorded a point for the first time since Oct. 25, and it was also his first goal since Oct. 22, when he contributed with a tally in the 4-0 win over the Bruins. Novak enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign with three goals in his first six games, but he's gone ice-cold since then. The 27-year-old should continue to find opportunities to produce as long as he remains a member of the second power-play unit, but the team's overall struggles certainly limit his upside considerably.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Ready to rock
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Novak (upper body) will play Sunday against Vancouver, according to Predators Radio Host Max Herz.
Novak might occupy a bottom-six role in the lineup following a six-game absence. He has three goals, one assist and 22 shots on net across 12 appearances this season. Novak's return could make Michael McCarron a healthy scratch versus the Canucks.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Out again Friday
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Novak (upper body) won't play Friday versus the Flames, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.
Novak will be out of the lineup for the sixth games in a row. The 27-year-old center's next chance to play is Sunday versus the Canucks, though it's unclear if he'll be ready for that contest.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Unavailable Thursday
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Novak (upper body) will miss Thursday's game against Edmonton, per Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Novak is set to miss his fifth straight game. He has three goals and four points in 12 outings in 2024-25. It remains to be seen if he'll be an option Friday versus Calgary.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Ruled out for Monday
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Novak (upper body) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Avalanche, Predators Radio Host Max Herz reports.
Novak participated in Monday's morning skate but will be unavailable for a fourth consecutive game. However, he seems to be getting closer to returning to game action, and his next opportunity to do so will be Thursday in Edmonton.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Unavailable Saturday
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Novak (upper body) won't play Saturday against Utah, according to Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site.
Novak will miss his third straight game. He has collected three goals, one assist and 22 shots on net across 12 appearances this season. Colton Sissons (upper body) will replace Novak in Saturday's lineup.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Remains out Thursday
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Novak (upper body) won't play against Florida on Thursday, per Nick Kieser of 102.5 ESPN Nashville.
It will be Novak's second straight game on the shelf. He has three goals and four points in 12 appearances in 2024-25. When Novak is available, he'll likely serve in a middle-six capacity. In the meantime, Michael McCarron is set to play in his second consecutive game.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Has upper-body injury
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Novak missed Wednesday's game versus the Capitals due to an upper-body injury.
Novak was a last-second scratch for the Predators, who were originally preparing to sit Luke Evangelista. The 27-year-old Novak is considered day-to-day, casting doubt on his availability for Thursday's game versus the Panthers.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Garners assist in win
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Novak logged a power-play assist in Friday's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Novak earned his first helper of the season on Brady Skjei's third-period tally, which was the game-winner. The 27-year-old Novak has four points, 16 shots on net and a plus-1 rating through seven contests so far. His ice time was limited to 10:45 in Friday's win, though it's unclear if he's in danger of being a healthy scratch. He'll have limited fantasy value in a bottom-six role, though if he can turn his performance around, he could be a candidate for the second line again.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Finds back of net Tuesday
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Novak scored a goal in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Bruins.
Novak recorded his third goal of the season Tuesday, but unlike in the previous two games in which he scored, this one contributed to Nashville's victory. The Predators have endured a tough start to the season, but Novak has found a way to stay productive, tallying three goals across six appearances while averaging 2.3 shots per game.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Tallies in Tuesday's loss
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Novak netted a goal in Tuesday's 7-3 loss versus the Kraken.
Novak had a yawning cage to shoot at after being set up on his goal by Mark Jankowski, but it wasn't enough to help Nashville overcome Seattle's offensive outburst. Novak is filling a third-line role while skating on the second power-play unit, so he's not relied upon much for primary scoring. The 27-year-old has reached the 43-point mark in back-to-back seasons, and he should be able to post similar numbers in 2024-25.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Scores in Thursday's loss
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Novak scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Stars.
Novak began the game on the second line, but his goal came early in the third period when he switched places with Colton Sissons. The 27-year-old Novak has the talent to be a top-six forward, but he'll have to be consistent to keep that role this season. He put up 45 points, 113 shots on net and a minus-3 rating in 71 regular-season outings last year, and his fantasy value relies exclusively on offense since he adds almost no physical play.
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Predators' Thomas Novak: Carries offense in preseason loss
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Novak scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's preseason loss to the Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old center had a hand in every Nashville goal in a 5-3 loss, helping to set up Mark Jankowski with the man advantage in the first period and Cole Smith at even strength in the second before potting his own tally in the final stanza. Novak seems set in a top-six role, and while he may not see many shifts on the first power-play unit, he could see a lot of even-strength ice time alongside new teammates Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. Novak set career highs with 18 goals and 45 points in 2023-24, but he could be poised to blow past those numbers given the talent upgrade around him.
