Novak scored a goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Friday's 6-3 win over the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Novak's goal gave the Predators a 2-0 lead in the second period. The center is warming up against with five points over his last seven games, though this was his first goal since Nov. 4. The 26-year-old is up to seven tallies, 20 points, 49 shots on net and a minus-1 rating over 31 appearances.

Novak logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Novak set up a Luke Evangelista tally in the second period. A recent lineup shuffle has seen Novak playing on the third line after beginning the year in a top-six role. The 26-year-old hasn't had much of a scoring touch, going 18 games without a goal, but he has racked up seven helpers across his last 11 outings. The center is at 19 points, 44 shots on net and a minus-3 rating through 29 contests.

Novak produced an assist and three shots on goal in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over the Capitals.

EDGE Analysis

Novak was formally moved down to the third line for this contest, as the Predators appear to be leaning on their veterans to help the team get back on track. He saw 13:31 of ice time Saturday, and he's still on the second power-play unit. Novak doesn't have a goal since he returned from an upper-body injury, racking up five assists, a minus-2 rating and 15 shots on net over 12 contests in that span. For the year, he's at 17 points, 41 shots and a minus-2 rating through 26 appearances.

Novak registered an assist in Friday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Red Wings, but saw his ice time dip to just 11:51.

EDGE Analysis

This marks the second time in the past three games that Novak has posted a TOI of under 12 minutes, which is concerning. He has averaged 14:42 of ice time this season, but was seeing 17:59 of playing time per contest in November before being sidelined for 11 games with an upper-body injury. Since his return in early December, he's recorded just four assists in 11 games and hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 4. It's probably a good move to stash Novak on your fantasy bench until he turns things around.

Novak (upper body) was activated off injured reserve ahead of Thursday's clash with Tampa Bay, per the NHL media site.

EDGE Analysis

Novak will be back in action for the first time since Nov. 11 against the Coyotes, a stretch of 11 games on the shelf. Prior to getting hurt, the St. Paul native racked up six goals and six assists in his last 14 contests, including six power-play points. Novak is expected to slot into a top-six role and could be in contention for a spot with the No. 1 power-play unit.

Novak is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks due to an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Novak was putting together a fantastic start to the season with six goals and six assists, including six power-play points, through the first 14 contests. The 26-year-old center was well on his way to replicating his numbers from last season when he managed 43 points in 51 contests. Michael McCarron will join the lineup with Novak on the shelf and could even take a second-line role.

Novak provided two assists -- including a power-play helper -- in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Coyotes.

EDGE Analysis

Nashville's third-round pick (No. 85 overall) is showing remarkable progression in the NHL. Specifically, Novak has cashed in six goals and six assists with half of his point total on the man advantage through 14 games. The Preds are in last place within the Central Division, but this 26-year-old pivot doesn't seemed to be bogged down by the overall team struggles. It will be tough for him to sustain an otherworldly shooting percentage of 23.1, though.

Novak scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

Both points came in the second period as the Predators broke open a 1-1 game. Novak has found the scoresheet in five of the last six games, and on the season the 26-year-old has racked up six goals and nine points through 10 games. He has been demonstrating that his breakout 2022-23 campaign, in which he produced 17 goals and 43 points over 51 games, was no fluke.

Novak scored a power-play goal on five shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Kraken.

EDGE Analysis

Novak opened the scoring in the first period with his fifth goal of the campaign. He's been solid in a middle-six role this season, and he's now exceeded 15 minutes of ice time in five straight games, posting three goals and two helpers in that span. The 26-year-old center is at seven points (four on the power play), 20 shots on net and a plus-2 rating through 10 appearances.

Novak netted two goals in a 5-1 win over San Jose on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Novak's first marker of the night proved to be his first game-winning goal of the campaign. He's up to four goals (though no assists) in six appearances this season. It's quite a start for the 26-year-old forward, who set career highs in 2022-23 with 17 markers and 43 points in 51 outings. It helps that Novak is seeing time on the first power-play unit this season -- three of his goals have come with the man advantage.