Gaustad failed to register a point in Saturday's 2-1 win over Columbus, extending his current scoring drought to five consecutive games. He has just six points (1G, 5A) on the season thus far. With the recent return of Mike Fisher from a ruptured Achilles, the outlook doesn't get any brighter for Gaustad, who effectively becomes the team's fourth line center. As such, Gaustad will be expected to kill penalties, win faceoffs and help shut down opposing teams' best forwards, none of which offer much fantasy value in most standard formats. Go with another option if you have one.

Gaustad tallied a pair of assists and engaged in a pair of fights, racking up 10 PIM and a plus-1 rating, in Tuesday's 9-2 rout of Toronto. The points were his first since Oct. 11 -- the second game of the season -- but Gaustad failed to put a single shot on goal for the seventh consecutive game. He's literally forced opposing netminders to make two saves in the month of November, and they both came in the first game of the month.

After registering a goal and three assists in his first two games of the season, Gaustad has since gone pointless in 12 consecutive games. Gaustad is currently filling a fourth-line role for the Preds, and skated a season-low 8:02 against the Jets earlier this month. Gaustad does not see any power-play time and has failed to register a single shot on goal in his last three games. Bottom line, all this amounts to very little by way of fantasy value for Gaustad in all but the deepest of formats. Avoid.

Gaustad scored the game-winning goal, picked up an assist, got in a fight, and was a plus-3 in Saturday's win over Dallas. A great outing from Gaustad, who is now up to four points in two games this season, to go with a plus-5 rating. As Nashville's fourth-line center, Gaustad doesn't play on the power play and isn't seen as a big offensive contributor. The 32-year-old did score 10 goals last season though, and could be valuable in deeper leagues.

Gaustad (upper body) returned to practice Thursday, Eric Stromgren of The Tennessean reports. Gaustad suffered an upper-body injury during Tuesday's practice, but seems to be OK after taking a few days off. He centered Rich Clune and Eric Nystrom on the fourth line at Sunday's practice, and he's expected to serve in that capacity when the regular season begins Oct. 9.

Gaustad left Tuesday's practice with an upper-body injury, The Tennessean's Eric Stromgren reports. No word yet on the severity of the injury, so consider him day-to-day for now. When healthy, Gaustad is normally the Preds' third- or fourth-line center, meaning he only possesses fantasy value in deeper formats.

Nashville GM David Poile still thinks highly of Paul Gaustad. "Paul does what he does. He's a checking center, best in the league at faceoffs and penalty killing," said Poile. "To me this is the good and bad news. Paul Gaustad is way more effective when our team has a lead, way more effective on our team as a shutdown guy. Give us the leads in the third period and the leads out of the gate and I think his role is better." Gaustad still has two years left on his current deal, which carries a $3.25 million cap hit. He contributed 10 goals and 11 assists in 75 games last season.

Paul Gaustad collected three points in the Nashville Predators' 7-5 victory over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night. Gaustad had a goal and two assists. With one game left in the Preds' regular season, the often-injured center has 10 goals and 10 assists. Mike Fisher also had a three-point night for the Preds, all assists, giving him 29 on the season. Nashville's other goal scorers Saturday were Craig Smith (22nd), Ryan Ellis (fifth), Matt Cullen (10th), Colin Wilson (11th), Patric Hornqvist (22nd) and Shea Weber (22nd). Weber's goal was produced on a wrist shot into an empty net with 14 seconds remaining in regulation.

Paul Gaustad (upper body) practiced with his teammates on Wednesday. He is trying to come back from a concussion and will accompany the Predators on their three-game road trip. Gaustad has been out of action since Mar. 19.

Paul Gaustad (upper body) isn't expected to return on Sunday. It will be Gaustad's sixth straight game on the sidelines. He has nine goals and 16 points in 70 contests in 2013-14.