Nashville Predators Upcoming Schedule
The Nashville Predators are gearing up for a busy week ahead, facing off in four games over the next six days as their schedule tightens further into November. Kicking things off, they will take on the Vancouver Canucks in a back-to-back match at Bridgestone Arena on Monday night. This matchup will occur less than two weeks after the Predators edged past the Canucks with a narrow 2-1 victory on October 23. Following their home game, the Preds are set to travel to Minnesota for a clash with the Wild on Tuesday. Notably, these teams will meet again on March 12, concluding their seasonal encounters.
Recent Performance
After halting a three-game losing streak, the Predators are fresh off a win against the Calgary Flames, securing a 4-2 victory on Saturday. During that game, Michael Bunting shone with one goal and three points, while his teammates Matthew Wood, Jonathan Marchessault, and Filip Forsberg—adding an empty-netter—contributed to the scoreline. This marked Wood’s second goal in as many games, having netted his first NHL goal just days prior against the Flyers.
As they prepare for the Canucks, the Predators stand at 5-6-2, while Vancouver holds a slightly better record of 6-7-0. The game is slated for a 7:30 PM CT start and will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports Network South, with radio coverage on 102.5 The Game.
Injury Updates
In terms of injuries, the Predators are dealing with significant blows; captain Roman Josi is now on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury, and forward Cole Smith is expected to stay out for 3-6 weeks after leaving Saturday’s game with a similar injury. As Smith recovers, Tyson Jost has stepped into his position on the line, given that he was a healthy scratch during the last match.
Player Highlights
In terms of individual performance, both Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly currently lead the team in points, each boasting nine points comprised of four goals and five assists. Their offensive support includes Bunting and Erik Haula, who have also reached seven points. Juuse Saros, the starting goaltender, continues to impress this season with a 2.79 goals-against average and an overall record of 5-4-2. His notable performance on the penalty kill sees him ranked eighth in the NHL, with a .959 save percentage when down a man.
On the power play, the Predators are showing signs of improvement, having found the net in three of their past four games, with Marchessault converting during Saturday’s victory. Yet, the Predators linger in 29th place regarding power-play efficiency, sitting at a mere 12.5% success rate.
Canucks Overview
Meanwhile, the Canucks are also experiencing a turbulent season thus far, alternating wins and losses over their previous five outings. Their latest defeat came in the form of a 5-2 loss to the Wild. Conor Garland leads the Canucks with 11 points, and goaltender Thatcher Demko has recorded a 2.41 GAA and .917 save percentage through his eight games played.
Rivalry History
The rivalry between the Predators and Canucks holds a rich history, with Nashville holding a lifetime record of 38-43-9 against Vancouver, and a home record of 20-19-7. Recent meetings display a competitive edge, with the Predators going 5-4-1 in their last ten confrontations with Vancouver.
As both teams head into this matchup, tactical adjustments and the management of injuries will significantly influence their performance, adding extra tension to an already exciting game day.
