The Nashville Predators have been on a hot streak, winning four of their last five games as they head into the latter part of 2025 with momentum. Recently, they triumphed over the Florida Panthers 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, a game highlighted by Steven Stamkos’ winning goal—his fourth in five games.
Their next challenge is a tough one as they go up against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh this Saturday. The matchup details: Nashville Predators (10-13-4, 8th in Central) will face Carolina Hurricanes (16-8-2, 2nd in Metropolitan) at 6:00 PM CST at the Lenovo Center with the game broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network South and radio coverage on 102.5 Games. Betting lines favor the Hurricanes (-1.5) over the Predators (+1.5).
Nashville’s penalty kill has been a standout this season and was key in their recent win against Florida, successfully defending all six penalties. Impressively, Stamkos dedicated the post-game honors to the entire penalty-killing unit. The Predators hold an 82.1% penalty kill rate, ranking 10th in the NHL, despite missing key player Cole Smith for two weeks and having fewer penalties than in previous seasons. Nashville currently ranks 19th in penalty minutes at 232 and has seen fewer fights compared to last year.
Ryan O’Reilly has been a vital contributor recently, accumulating eight points in the last five games despite not scoring in four straight matches. He leads the team with 21 points and has produced multiple points in games against the Red Wings, Blackhawks, and Panthers. Alongside Stamkos, who has gained six points in five games, the Predators look to have found their offensive rhythm, having scored four or more goals in three of their past five contests.
Though the Hurricanes have been strong contenders in recent NHL seasons, Nashville has had their number lately, winning five of the past six encounters. In their last face-off on March 26 in Raleigh, Luke Evangelista scored twice and goalie Juuse Saros made 34 saves to secure a 3-1 victory, marking Saros’ 200th career win.
Carolina has hit a rough patch recently, losing three of their last five games, including a 5-1 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Despite this, they remain second in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points, with Seth Jarvis ranking tied for 10th in goals scored.
Injuries are affecting both teams: Nashville is missing Justin Barron, Ozzie Weisblatt, Nick Perbix, Zach Rolleux, and Cole Smith, while Carolina’s lineup is shaken by absences including K’Andre Miller, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jakob Slavin, Piotr Kochetkov, and Charles-Alexis Legault.
Fan Take: This streaking Predators team is proving that perseverance and solid special teams play can turn a season around, making them a compelling watch for hockey fans. If Nashville can keep up this form against a tough Hurricanes squad, it could signal a shift in power within their division and heighten competition in the league.
