Nashville Predators Season Opener
As the Nashville Predators gear up for their season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena, they are eager to leave behind the challenges of the previous season, which concluded on a disappointing note. The build-up to Opening Night is usually filled with excitement, but for the Predators, recent history has cast a shadow on what should be a hopeful beginning.
Historical Performance
Historically, the franchise holds a 14-11-1 record on Opening Nights, ranking them 15th in the NHL since 1997-98. However, their performance in the past few seasons leaves much to be desired; they have managed only two wins in their last five opening games.
Recent Season Openers
In the 2024-25 season opener, the Predators faced a tough battle against the Dallas Stars. Notably absent was starting goaltender Juuse Saros, sidelined with a lower-body injury—an absence felt deeply as Scott Wedgewood took to the net. The Predators fell behind after conceding four goals in a disastrous second period, ultimately losing 4-3, which initiated a grim five-game losing streak to start that season. Despite a fierce effort from Filip Forsberg, who notched a power-play goal and two assists, the team struggled overall, finishing the season with a disappointing 30-44-8 record and missing the playoffs.
Going back a year to the 2023 opener, the Predators encountered the Tampa Bay Lightning, losing 5-3. That game featured Ryan O’Reilly’s debut as a Predator, with Forsberg continuing his streak of at least one point in season-openers, now to eight games—the longest active streak at the time. Despite this shaky start, the team rallied later in the season to secure a playoff berth, although they were swiftly eliminated by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round.
In a brief moment of optimism, the 2022 season opener saw Nashville triumph over the San Jose Sharks with a clear 4-1 victory in Prague, a highlight in an otherwise difficult season as they missed the postseason again.
The 2021-22 season kick-off was particularly notable; the Seattle Kraken snagged their first franchise victory against the Predators with a 4-3 win at Bridgestone Arena. Meanwhile, Nashville’s Mikael Granlund contributed with a goal and two assists in what was a challenging opener.
For the unexpected January 2021 opening, the Predators faced the Blue Jackets in a much-altered atmosphere due to COVID-19 restrictions. With limited attendance due to health guidelines, Nashville still managed to secure a 3-1 victory. That season concluded with the team finishing fourth in their division but falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs.
Looking Ahead
Now, as Nashville prepares for a new challenge, the anticipation surrounding the lineup, which includes four rookies, adds an element of freshness and hope. While expectations are more cautious compared to last season, a win against Columbus could signal a significantly better start than last year’s tumultuous beginning. The Predators are determined to change their opening night narrative, armed with the lessons learned from a challenging past and the energy of a new season.
