The Nashville Predators return to Bridgestone Arena on October 21, 2025, ready to defend home ice against a young and fast Anaheim Ducks team in a matchup that underscores their resurgence as a playoff-caliber contender. After a season of transition, Nashville has embraced a new identity under head coach Andrew Brunette—one built around tempo, puck possession, and offensive creativity while maintaining the disciplined defensive structure that has defined the franchise for years. The results have been promising, as the Predators have started the 2025–26 campaign playing confident, cohesive hockey, with contributions coming from all parts of the lineup. Filip Forsberg continues to serve as the offensive catalyst, combining elite shooting touch with veteran composure to lead the attack. Offseason acquisition Jonathan Marchessault has slotted seamlessly into Nashville’s top six, adding scoring consistency and experience, while Ryan O’Reilly remains the glue of the team—reliable on faceoffs, defensively sound, and invaluable in high-pressure moments. Together, this trio gives Nashville a balanced forward core capable of adapting to any style of play. Young forwards Tommy Novak and Luke Evangelista have continued their upward trajectories, offering depth scoring and energy, while Cole Smith and Colton Sissons contribute valuable minutes in shutdown and penalty-killing roles. On the blue line, captain Roman Josi remains the heartbeat of the Predators, dictating play with his elite skating and vision. His ability to drive offense from the back end while anchoring the defense makes him one of the NHL’s most complete defensemen. He is supported by Dante Fabbro, Jeremy Lauzon, and Ryan McDonagh, who provide structure, physicality, and leadership on a defense corps that has shown notable improvement in its ability to move the puck efficiently.

Offensively, Josi’s partnership with the top power-play unit continues to pay dividends—Nashville’s man advantage has been operating near the top of the league early in the season, fueled by his creativity and the finishing of Forsberg and Marchessault. In goal, Juuse Saros remains the foundation of Nashville’s success. Widely regarded as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders, Saros has started the season in elite form, posting a goals-against average below 2.30 and delivering timely saves that have preserved multiple early-season wins. His quick lateral movement and ability to read plays give the Predators confidence to push offensively without fear of breakdowns. When Saros is on his game, Nashville becomes one of the toughest teams in the league to beat, particularly at home, where his numbers consistently rank among the league’s best. Strategically, the Predators will look to assert themselves early against Anaheim by dictating pace, applying heavy forecheck pressure, and controlling zone time. Nashville’s depth and physicality should give them the edge in board battles, while their special teams—ranked among the NHL’s most efficient—offer a potential advantage over an inexperienced Ducks group. The key for Nashville will be discipline; they cannot afford to give Anaheim’s power play extra opportunities, particularly with players like Chris Kreider and Leo Carlsson emerging as threats in front of the net. From a betting perspective, the Predators are justifiably solid home favorites, boasting one of the league’s best ATS records on home ice since last season. Their combination of veteran leadership, elite goaltending, and offensive balance makes them a reliable play both straight up and to cover, especially against a rebuilding opponent. Expect Nashville to control possession for long stretches, frustrate Anaheim’s young forwards, and use their superior structure to wear the Ducks down over three periods. If Forsberg and Marchessault continue their scoring pace and Saros maintains his sharp form, the Predators should be well-positioned to extend their home dominance and add another win to their strong start, reaffirming their place among the Western Conference’s most complete and consistent teams.