Prospect Austin Watson will get his first chance to play in the NHL with the Nashville Predators as he was recalled by the club Sunday morning, prior to the 6:00pm puck drop in Chicago. With the call up coming under "emergeny conditions", Wilson will most likely be in the lineup against the best of the West.

The 21 year old has spent the past season in Milwaukee playing 68 games and scoring 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists). Watson has excellent size as a center at 6'3", which helps him the faceoff dot.

With the recall becoming under emergency conditions, Paul Gaustad, groin, may be out for a few games.

The following is a press release from the Predators' organization.

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Austin Watson from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions. Nashville’s first choice, 18th overall (first round), in the 2010 Entry Draft is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Chicago.

 

Watson, 21 (1/13/92), leads the Admirals and ranks fifth among American Hockey League rookies in goals (20), in addition to ranking second on Milwaukee in points (36) in 2012-13. During a decorated junior career from 2008-12, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native won a pair of OHL titles (2009 and 2012) and a Memorial Cup (2009). With London a season ago, he was the recipient of the 2012 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award presented to playoff MVP, in addition to being named to the Memorial Cup tournament all-star team. The 6-3, 193-pound forward represented the United States at the 2012 World Junior Championships, leading the team in points (9) and assists (6).

(Photo by: John Russel/Getty Images)

Nashville played in front of their 18th home sellout crowd of the season this afternoon, although because if cheap SouthWest airlines flights (I'm told), it was a healthy mix of Red and Yellow in the stands. With their playoffs hopes on the line, Preds didn't show nearly enough spark to compete with the very good Blackhawks.

After missing the last game against the Blue Jackets due to illness, Victor Bartley will return to the lineup at maybe the best time possible; before a home and home with the Western Conference's best team in the league Chicago Blackhawks. 

With Bartley returning, the Predators no longer need the services of defenseman Ryan Ellis and have reassigned him to Milwaukee.

Puck drops in Bridgestone Arena at 2pm CT. Fans, remember to sing loudly to drown out the noisy and obnoxious Blackhawks fans.

The Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks start a home-and-home at Bridgestone Arena in a matinee match. Nashville is 15-15-8 with 38 points and 11th in the Western Conference. Chicago is 27-5-4 with 58 points and 1st in the Western Conference. Puck drops at 2:07pm CT.

Sorry for it being so long since I've updated the brackets and advanced to the quarterfinals. You have voted on who you're favorite all-time Predators players are, and now we are down to only eight. Only one can be crowned the Preds' all-time favorite, so get voting!

Go ahead and start voting after seeing the first and second rounds' results below. Have any questions? Ask them in the comment section below or contact me via Twitter or by email in the contact form above.

(Photo by: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators started the post-Martin Erat era with a 3-1 loss to Central Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets. This win snapped allowed Columbus to record their first regulation win at Bridgestone Arena since 2006.

On post-Trade Deadline day, the Nashville Predators have elected to call up defenseman Ryan Ellis and forward Chris Mueller from Milwaukee prior to puck drop against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the press release, the Predators made it known that this move was "under emergency conditions".

Mueller was on four flights between Milwaukee and Nashville yesterday. Tough for a player trying to earn a spot on the NHL squad to go through all that mental and physical stress, but Mueller will have to battle through that.

Ellis hasn't played with the Preds since March 21 against the Calgary Flames. This season, the 22 year old has participated on 31 games, but was squeezed out of the lineup due to the return of Hal Gill and the solid play from Jonathon Blum and Victor Bartley.

Mueller will most likely be in the lineup to help in the faceoff dot, but Ellis will probably be a healthy scratch. Puck drops at 7:00pm CT.

The Nashville Predators take on a revamped Columbus Blue Jackets club for the final time at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville has a record 15-14-8 with 38 points and ranked 9th in the Western Conference. Columbus is ranked 11th in the Western Conference with 37 points and a record of 15-14-7. Puck drops at 7:07pm CT/8:07pm ET.

(Photo by: Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

Young goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has found a comfortable place to play hockey without an extremely hostile environment pouring the pressure on to make the playoffs. Before coming to Columbus, Bobrovsky was a wash up out of Philadelphia. There were low expectations for him, and also the entire Blue Jackets' organization. However, that appears to be the reason for their success.

After a couple hours of waiting on pins and needles for an announcement, the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals completed a trade before clock struck 2:00pm CT. Martin Erat and Michael Latta have been traded to the Capitals in exchange for Filip Forsberg. “It felt good today," said Nashville general manager David Poile, "and I know it will feel good in the future.”

"I didn't like it. But I dealt with it. And now we have a tremendous prospect."