Predators Face Off Against Canucks in Key Matchup

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Nashville Predators are set to host the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena, kicking off a back-to-back series for the Predators. This game is the second of three meetings between the two teams this season, following Nashville’s 2-1 victory less than two weeks ago.

The Predators ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday afternoon. Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette praised his team’s performance, saying, “You’re happy for them. Obviously, a lot of us are squeezing the stick with them through this stretch, and it was nice to see some pucks go in, finally.”

However, the team faces challenges as forward Cole Smith will miss 3-6 weeks due to an upper-body injury sustained during Saturday’s game. Additionally, Captain Roman Josi has been placed on Injured Reserve for the same reason. Defenseman Adam Wilsby is day-to-day with a lower body issue, while forward Tyson Jost is expected to fill in for Smith during tonight’s matchup.

The Predators did not practice on Sunday but will hold a morning skate this morning at Bridgestone Arena. In the previous matchup against Calgary, Michael Bunting, Matthew Wood, Jonathan Marchessault, and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators. Bunting contributed with two assists, and Wood scored his first two NHL goals during the last two contests.

As for the Canucks, they struggled in their last game, suffering a 5-2 defeat to Minnesota. Conor Garland leads Vancouver with 11 points, while Elias Pettersson has three goals and eight points this season. The Canucks have alternated wins and losses over their last five games and will look to break that trend tonight.

In their all-time series, the Predators hold a slight edge over the Canucks with a record of 38-43-(2)-7. At home, Nashville has a 20-19-(1)-6 record against Vancouver. Jonathan Marchessault has particularly thrived against the Canucks, compiling 26 points in 26 career games against them.

Coverage of the game begins at 7 p.m. CT with a pregame show on FanDuel Sports Network South. The game will also be broadcast on El Jefe in Spanish. As the Predators and Canucks gear up for tonight’s faceoff, fans are eager to see how each team responds after a mix of recent performances.