Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers: Game Preview
The Nashville Predators are on a quest for their second consecutive victory, which would mark only their third time achieving back-to-back wins for this season. They’ll take on the Florida Panthers in Sunrise tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. Having experienced a slight resurgence with three wins in their last four games, including a decisive 5-1 triumph against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, the Predators are looking to build momentum. However, they haven’t tasted victory over the Panthers since the 2023-24 season, posing a significant challenge ahead.
Match Details
- Teams: Nashville Predators (9-13-4)
- Opponent: Florida Panthers (12-12-1)
- Date & Time: Thursday, 6 p.m. CST
- Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
- Broadcasters: FanDuel Sports Network South (TV), 102.5 The Game (Radio)
- Betting Line: Predators (+1.5), Panthers (-1.5). Over/under set at 6.
Rising Stars
In their recent victory over the Flames, the Predators showcased the potential of their rookie players. Reid Schaefer celebrated his first NHL goal and engaged in his inaugural fight, contributing to the team’s morale. Simultaneously, Ozzy Weisblatt scored as well, notably dedicating his goal to his late brother, Orca, with a heartfelt gesture during his celebration. Both players joined Matthew Wood, who scored his first NHL goal earlier this season, marking a wave of newcomers making their mark in the league.
Stamkos Finds His Groove
As the season progresses, Steven Stamkos appears to be rediscovering his form after a sluggish start. He has accumulated five points over the past four games, indicated by noteworthy multi-point efforts against the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Recently, he hit a personal milestone with his 1200th career point, maintaining an impressive point-per-game pace throughout his extensive career spanning nearly two decades. His re-emergence is crucial for the Predators as they look to enhance their offensive capabilities, having scored four of his seven November points in just the last week.
Historical Context
The Predators have struggled against the Panthers, enduring a 623-day winless streak against them since a 3-0 victory that highlighted a remarkable 16-game point streak for Nashville. Their last encounter was not a fond memory; the Predators suffered an 8-3 defeat on November 24, a game characterized by an explosive first period and a disastrous third for Nashville, in which Florida scored three unanswered goals. In that match, multiple Panthers players delivered standout performances, each finishing with at least two goals.
Conversely, the Panthers are facing adversity of their own, having lost three consecutive games and sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Despite this, they remain close enough to playoff contention, only six points shy of a Wild Card spot, signaling that any team can turn their fortunes around quickly in this competitive division. In contrast, the Predators find themselves 22 points behind the leading Colorado Avalanche in the Central Division and seven points from claiming a Wild Card seat.
Injury Report
Nashville Predators: Cole Smith (upper body, injured reserve), Zach L’Heureux (lower body, injured reserve), Nick Perbix (upper body, day-to-day), Justin Barron (lower body, day-to-day), Michael McCarron (lower body, day-to-day).
Florida Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk (groin, injured reserve), Aleksander Barkov (knee, injured reserve), Dmitry Kulikov (upper body, injured reserve), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body, injured reserve), Eetu Luostarinen (lower body, week to week), Tomas Nosek (knee, injured reserve), Cole Schwindt (arm, injured reserve).
