The Carolina Hurricanes will meet the Nashville Predators looking to extend their recent winning streak and continue to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the league. Carolina enters this contest riding a four-game win streak, securing the top spot in the Eastern Conference so far this season. The Predators are also playing well of late, making this a great test for both of these clubs. Before this contest begins from Nashville, continue reading to get my Hurricanes vs Predators prediction.
Our Hurricanes vs Predators Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes vs Nashville Predators
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Hurricanes have been in strong form, winning their last four games and capturing momentum at a key stretch of their schedule. Their most recent win came via a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers, which was their third win in a row via shootout. Carolina’s offense is averaging above three goals per game, and they are particularly dangerous when they generate at least three goals, going 18-1-2 this season in such games.
The Predators have battled inconsistency throughout the season but have gained traction in December, winning seven of their last 10 outings. They most recently earned a convincing 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, powered by Filip Forsberg’s hat trick. Nashville has shown it can score in bunches but still concedes more than three goals per contest on average, pointing to defensive lapses that Carolina could exploit.
Goaltending
Carolina’s goaltending has been a major factor in their recent success. Brandon Bussi has posted an impressive 11-1-0 record with a solid goals-against average and a save percentage of .911, keeping the Hurricanes competitive in close games and giving them a chance to win even when they aren’t firing on all cylinders.
On the Nashville side, the Predators appear to split starts between Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen, with Saros coming off a strong outing in the win over St. Louis. However, Nashville’s goaltenders have been more up-and-down this season, leaving room for Carolina’s offense to create scoring opportunities.
Key skaters
Carolina boasts balanced scoring with contributions up and down the lineup. Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho lead the offense with strong point production, while Shayne Gostisbehere leads the team with 21 assists.
Nashville’s attack is led by Filip Forsberg, who has been red hot with goals in recent games, moving him up to 14 goals on the year. Veteran Ryan O’Reilly tops the team in overall points with 26, including 10 goals and 16 assists.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Seth Jarvis | |
| Filip Forsberg | |
| Sebastian Aho |
Betting Trends & H2H
- Carolina beat Nashville 6-3 earlier this month in their first meeting of the regular season.
- Carolina is 12-20 on the puckline going into this matchup.
- Nashville is 15-17 on the puckline market during the 2025-26 season.
Hurricanes vs Predators Model Projection
Final Thoughts
