Nashville Predators Face Carolina Hurricanes in Preseason Finale

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes this afternoon as they conclude their preseason with a game at Bridgestone Arena. The puck drops at 3 p.m. CT.

This matchup serves as the final opportunity for the Predators to evaluate their roster before the 2025-26 NHL season begins. Nashville must finalize its roster of 23 players by Monday. Recently, the team assigned forward Zach L’Heureux and defenseman Tanner Molendyk to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, which brings them closer to the required roster size.

“Well, I want to see us continue and improve here – keep building,” said Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette after Friday’s practice. “It’s going to be a really big challenge. We know how Carolina plays, and it’ll be a really good test for us.”

Predators Captain Roman Josi echoed his coach’s sentiments, stating, “It’s a big game for us, just to get into everything. We’ve had camp for two-and-a-half weeks and worked on a lot of things.”

The team has maintained consistent forward lines throughout the week, with Brady Martin, the Predators’ first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, skating alongside veterans Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly. Other notable lines include Erik Haula, Jonathan Marchessault, and Michael Bunting, who have been together since the start of camp.

Injuries are affecting both teams. Predators forward Matthew Wood is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Nic Hague is out with an upper-body injury. On the Hurricanes’ side, key players Jaccob Slavin, K'Andre Miller, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi will not play due to injuries.

Before the game, the annual PredsFest, presented by Ticketmaster, will take place at Walk of Fame Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, offering fans a chance to enjoy festivities and secure free tickets for the game.

Today’s matchup can also be streamed on NashvillePredators.com, with radio coverage available on ESPN 102.5 The Game featuring Pete Weber and Jay More.