NHL Game Preview: Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks with Line Combinations 1/3/2025

Nashville Predators (11-20-7, 29 pts) at Vancouver Canucks (18-11-8, 44 pts)

Venue: Rogers Arena
Date: Friday, January 3
Time: 10:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN+/FDSNSO/SCRI
Radio: 
Nashville – 102.5 ESPN
Vancouver – Sportsnet 650 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Nashville -1.5 ML -125
Vancouver: +1.5 ML +105
O/U 5.5

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Nashville Predators News & Notes

The Predators have lost their last three games having been outscored 15-7 in that span, most recently they lost to the Minnesota Wild on New Year’s Eve 5-3. They wrapped up December going 4-8-1 averaging 2.2 goals per game while allowing an average of 3.6 goals per game.

Vancouver Canucks News & Notes: 

The Canucks snapped their two-game skid last night with a 4-3 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. The Canucks lost their goalie Thatcher Demko who left the game with back spasms and Kevin Lankinen came in stopping 13 of the 15 shots he faced. J.T. Miller scored the lone shootout goal for the Canucks.

Nashville Predators Projected Lines

Forsberg–Stamkos–Marchessault
Hinostroza–O’Reilly–Nyquist
Jankowski–Novak–Evangelista
Wiesblatt–McCarron–Sissons

Josi-Barron
Skjei–Blackenburg
Schenn–Stastney

Saros
Annunen

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Vancouver Canucks Projected Lines:

DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser
Di Guiuseppe-Suter-Garland
Joshua-Blueger-Sherwood
Hoglander-Sasson-Heinen

Brisebois-Myers
Soucy-Juulsen
Forbort-Desharnais

Lankinen
Demko

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Players To Watch:

Nashville Predators

Steven Stamkos this season has 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists. He’s faced Vancouver 21 times in his career recording 30 points on 18 goals and 12 assists; in the previous matchup this season he had two goals.

Vancouver Canucks

Danton Heinen this season has 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. He’s faced Nashville 11 times in his career recording eight points on a goal and seven assists; he recorded two assists in the previous matchup this season against Nashville.

Injury Report:

Nashville Predators

D Jeremy Lauzon – DTD
F Cole Smith – IR
D Adam Wilsby – DTD
F Zachary L’Heureux – Out (Suspended)

Vancouver Canucks

D Filip Hronek – IR
D Quinn Hughes – Out
F Elias Pettersson – Out

Next game:

Nashville – January 4 at Calgary Flames
Vancouver – January 6 at Montreal Canadiens

ITR 30: Down The Stretch – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as they discuss the NHL General Managers Meetings, Connor Bedard's antics, Mikko Rantanen returning to Colorado, Gabriel Landeskog resumes skating with the team, Ovechkin's Gr8 Chase, and NHL Playoff updates.

1. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
2. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
3. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
4. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33
5. ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting 42:17