The Nashville Predators and New York Rangers are set to face off on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This matchup features two teams with contrasting seasons: the Rangers are fighting to stay in the playoff race, while the Predators are looking to build momentum in a challenging campaign. Here’s a detailed preview:
Team Overview
- Nashville Predators (21-31-7): The Predators are 14th in the Western Conference with 49 points. They are coming off a tough 7-4 loss to the New York Islanders, where they fell behind early and couldn’t recover. Nashville has struggled on the road this season, with a 6-19-4 record, and will need a strong performance to compete against the Rangers.
- New York Rangers (29-26-4): The Rangers are 10th in the Eastern Conference with 62 points. They recently suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs but have shown flashes of strong play. New York has a 14-13-2 record at home and will look to capitalize on their home-ice advantage.
Key Players to Watch
- Nashville Predators:
- Filip Forsberg: Forsberg leads the Predators with 22 goals and 32 assists this season. His scoring ability will be crucial for Nashville’s offense.
- Thomas Novak: Novak has been a bright spot recently, scoring four goals in the last 10 games. His contributions will be key in this matchup.
- Juuse Saros: The goaltender has faced a heavy workload this season and will need to deliver a strong performance to keep the Predators competitive.
- New York Rangers:
- Artemi Panarin: Panarin leads the Rangers with 23 goals and 35 assists. His playmaking and scoring ability make him a constant threat.
- Adam Fox: The defenseman has been a key contributor with 43 assists this season. His ability to generate offense from the blue line will be vital.
- Igor Shesterkin: The goaltender has a 20-21-2 record and will look to bounce back after recent challenges.
Injury Report
- Nashville Predators: Captain Roman Josi is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and is listed as week-to-week. Mark Jankowski is day-to-day.
- New York Rangers: No significant injuries reported.
Matchup Analysis
- Predators’ Offense vs. Rangers’ Defense: Nashville averages 2.6 goals per game, ranking 30th in the NHL, while the Rangers allow 3.1 goals per game. The Predators will need to find ways to generate offense against New York’s defense.
- Rangers’ Power Play: New York’s power play ranks 20th in the league with a 20.67% conversion rate. If they can capitalize on special teams, it could give them an edge.
- Key Battle: The duel between Forsberg and Panarin will be a highlight. Both players are capable of taking over the game, and their performances could influence the outcome.
Nashville Predators 6.5
New York Rangers – 185
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, March 1, 2025
