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 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Florida Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, Trevor Zegras traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the AHL Calder Cup winning Abbotsford Canucks, and the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft!

1. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
2. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10
3. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat? 29:05
4. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch 46:47
5. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? 32:22