| MATCHUP | Columbus Blue Jackets | Nashville Predators |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 |
| Where | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN | |
| When | Thursday, October 9, 2025 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Nashville Predators meet Thursday in NHL action from the Bridgestone Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Nashville Predators prediction.
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets come into the 2025-26 season looking to take another step forward after what ended up being a really solid 2024-25 campaign despite tragedy and the offseason passing of Johnny Gaudreau as Columbus, who was expected to finish in the basement of the league, finished 40-33-9, but the 89 points were not enough as they missed the playofs for the 5th straight season. Kirill Marchenko is back as the lead man in Columbus’ top line after scoring 31 goals and 74 points last season alongside Dmitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan in Columbus’ top line. Zach Werenski will anchor the top line for Columbus’ defensive grouping, and Ivan Provorov as well as Dante Fabbro make up a veteran combination in this Blue Jackets’ defensive grouping. Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins make up a solid pairing for the Blue Jackets between the pipes, but Greaves is epected to assume the #1 role after a hot run to finish 2024-25.
Nashville Predators Team Preview
The Nashville Predators come into the 2025-26 season looking to improve on what was a horrible 2024-25 season, but the good news is it can really only go up from here as the Preds finished 3rd worst in the league and missed the playoffs with a record of 30-44-8 despite offseason signings of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei, but a horrible run to start the year took this team out of the race by December. Now, the Predators have to move forward with a core that’s not getting any younger, which also includes Ryan O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg and others up front. Roman Josi will hope for a clean bill of health in 2025-26, after a diagnosis of Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, but the expectation is that he will at least start the season healthy. Juuse Saros is hoping for a turnaround in 2025-26 after going from a top-5 goalie to questions about even being in the top-10. Justus Annunen is in to back up Saros in goal for the Preds.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Nashville Predators Betting Trends: October 9, 2025
Why the Nashville Predators will win
- The Predators have won each of their last nine home games against the Blue Jackets.
- The Blue Jackets have lost each of their last seven night games at Bridgestone Arena.
- The home team has covered the puck line in nine of the last 11 games between the Blue Jackets and Predators.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five season openers as underdogs.
- The Predators have won the third period in each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Blue Jackets have won each of their last six games.
- The Predators have lost four of their last five games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight road games against Central Division opponents.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in 20 of their last 23 games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Predators have lost the third period in seven of their last eight home games when trailing after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Nine of the last 10 night games between the Blue Jackets and Predators have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Seven of the Blue Jackets’ last eight season openers have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Thursday night games between teams from different conferences have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Predators’ last 10 games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in seven of the Blue Jackets’ last eight games as underdogs.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Ryan O’Reilly has scored a goal in four of the Predators’ last five games.
- Filip Forsberg has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Predators’ last nine home games.
- Filip Forsberg has recorded at least one point in each of the Predators’ last 11 home games against the Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Adam Fantilli has scored at least one goal in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games.
- Sean Monahan has recorded at least one assist in each of the Blue Jackets’ last five games.
- Kirill Marchenko has recorded at least one point in each of the Blue Jackets’ last seven road games against Central Division opponents.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Nashville Predators Prediction
I’m on the Blue Jackets in this one. I just don’t see where the Predators all of a sudden justify laying this kind of price, even though they played their better hockey at home last season. Columbus was one of the bigger surprises in the league last year and I think Columbus can at least start the season on the right foot and get the job done at a great price. The Predators have to show me here.