By: Dylan Hellebrand Updated: 10/08/2025 at 11:10 PM ET
On Thursday, the Columbus Blue Jackets face off against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will be aired on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio and FanDuel Sports Network South, as well as ESPN+. Keep up to date with all the NHL action, with our NHL predictions.
Game Information For Blue Jackets vs Predators October 9, 2025, 8:00pm EST, Bridgestone Arena ESPN+/FanDuel Sports Network Ohio/FanDuel Sports Network South Nashville Form & Recent Results
Nashville heads into the new season with some momentum, having won three of their last five games to close out the previous season. In their season finale, the Predators put on an impressive display, cruising to a 5-1 victory over Dallas. Ryan O’Reilly played a standout role in that win, notching a goal and adding two assists. Throughout last season, Filip Forsberg was the offensive leader for Nashville. He topped the team in goals, finding the back of the net 31 times, and also led the Predators in total points with 76. Forsberg wasn’t just a goal-scorer, he set up his teammates as well, finishing first on the team in assists with 45. Interestingly, Steven Stamkos stood out as Nashville’s second-best goal-scorer, racking up 27 goals over the course of the season. Despite a generally inconsistent year, the Predators found their scoring touch late, averaging 4.4 goals per game in their final five matchups. However, across the season, Nashville struggled to score consistently and averaged just 2.6 goals per game. With the new season about to begin and their first game at home against the Blue Jackets, the Predators are hoping to build off their strong finish and get off to a fast start.
Columbus Form & Recent Results
Columbus comes into their season opener riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak from the tail end of last year. They finished last season on a high note, dominating the Islanders 6-1, thanks in large part to an outstanding performance by goaltender Jet Greaves, who stopped 36 shots and finished the night with a remarkable .973 save percentage. Offensively, Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli were the biggest threats for the Blue Jackets last year, each finding the back of the net 31 times. Kent Johnson wasn’t far behind them, contributing 24 goals of his own throughout the season. The team’s top point producer was defenseman Zach Werenski, who tallied a team-best 82 points, and also led Columbus in assists with 59. Down the stretch last season, the Blue Jackets were firing on all cylinders, averaging an impressive 4.6 goals per game in their final five matchups. For the entire season, Columbus averaged 3.3 goals per game. As they kick off the new season with a road game against Nashville, the Blue Jackets will look to continue their offensive surge and keep the winning streak alive.
Key Players for Blue Jackets and Predators Columbus’ Zach Werenski last season: 82 points, 59 assists Nashville’s Filip Forsberg last season: 76 points, 45 assists Betting Odds & Market Overview: NSH -125/CBJ +105, O/U 6.5 Predators vs Blue Jackets Picks and Prediction
As the new season kicks off, both teams are eager to set the tone and prove themselves early on. The Blue Jackets come in with an offense that was red-hot last year, showing plenty of firepower and creativity up front. Nashville, meanwhile, is determined to put the brakes on that momentum and defend their home ice. Final Score Prediction, Nashville Predators win 3-2.
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