The Columbus Blue Jackets will start their season on the road as they take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Both of these teams missed the playoffs a season ago and will try to get a win that they hope will matter to their playoff hopes in the long run this year. Before the puck drops in Nashville, continue reading to get my Blue Jackets vs Predators prediction for this contest.
Our Blue Jackets vs Predators Pick
- Pick: Blue Jackets Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Nashville Predators
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Blue Jackets vs Predators Odds
| Odds | Line |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Columbus +105 | Nashville −125 |
| Puckline | Columbus +1.5 (–265) | Nashville −1.5 (+190) |
| Over/Under | 6.5 |
Key Storylines
Recent form
Columbus ended 2024-25 with +5 goal differential (273 goals for, 268 goals against) and a 40–33–9 record. They missed out on the playoffs by just two points and will try to get there this season. Nashville struggled last season, especially offensively, finishing with only 214 goals scored (2.61 per game) and a -60 goal differential. If the Preds want to have a better season this year, it will start with finding a spark offensively.
Goaltending
Nashville will likely ride with Juuse Saros in net to start this season. He had a losing record last year and will try to kickstart a stronger 2025-26 campaign by shutting down the Blue Jackets. Elvis Merzļikins is expected to get the start in net for the Jackets in this season opener. He will need to be sharp, particularly in controlling rebounds so as not to give up scoring chances to the Preds.
Key skaters
Columbus was led by Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski last season. That duo combined for over 150 points and will have a lot to do with the team’s success again this year. The addition of Dante Fabbro, who is familiar with Nashville’s system, could help Columbus anticipate and counter the Predators’ gameplan.
Roman Josi anchors the defense for Nashville with his ability to skate the line and create offense. Up front, Filip Forsberg remains the primary threat, supported by Ryan O’Reilly’s two-way reliability and the newly signed Luke Evangelista. The Preds will also hope to get something out of veteran center Steven Stamkos.
Best Player Props
| Player | Stat Type | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Fantilli | Points | Over 0.5 |
| Kirill Marchenko | Goals | Over 0.5 |
| Filip Forsberg | Assists | Over 0.5 |
Blue Jackets vs Predators Model Projection
Score Projection: Columbus 4 – Nashville 3
Win Probability: Columbus 52% | Nashville 48%
Final Thoughts
The Columbus Blue Jackets finished last year’s regular season playing some of the best hockey in the NHL. They had won six games in a row and built a ton of positivity to carry into this year. While the Jackets might not put together another extended winning streak, I do think that they will come away with the win on the road to open this season. I think there is some value in backing the Jackets as a slight underdog on Thursday night.
