The Nashville Predators (24-23-6) face the New York Islanders (30-19-5) in an interconference clash at UBS Arena. The Islanders, third in the Metropolitan Division, have won three straight and are pushing for a top spot in the East with strong goaltending and balanced scoring. The Predators, fifth in the Central, are hovering around .500 amid defensive inconsistencies but have shown flashes of offensive potency. This is their second meeting of the 2025-26 season, with the Islanders winning 2-1 in a shootout on Jan. 8 in Nashville. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair as both teams battle for crucial points heading into the Olympic break.
Venue: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, MSGSN, FDSNSO
Recent Team Forms
The Islanders are heating up with defensive solidity; the Predators have been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses.
Predators (4-4-2 in last 10): Nashville averages 2.9 goals scored and 3.2 allowed recently. They’ve split their last six, with a 3-2 OT loss to New Jersey (Jan. 29) highlighting goaltending issues. Wins include 5-3 over Ottawa (Jan. 22) and 4-3 OT over Detroit (Jan. 13), but blowouts like 6-2 to Utah (Jan. 6) expose vulnerabilities
Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 29 | @ NJD | L 2-3 (OT) |
| Jan 27 | @ BOS | L 3-4 |
| Jan 24 | vs OTT | W 5-3 |
| Jan 22 | vs CHI | W 6-4 |
| Jan 20 | @ BUF | L 3-5 |
Islanders (6-3-1 in last 10): New York averages 3.1 goals scored and 2.4 allowed, winning five of seven. They’ve swept the Rangers in back-to-back games (2-1 on Jan. 29, 5-2 on Jan. 28), with shutouts and comebacks. Losses include 5-4 OT to Winnipeg (Jan. 24) and 4-3 to Minnesota (Jan. 10)
Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Jan 29 | vs NYR | W 2-1 |
| Jan 28 | vs NYR | W 5-2 |
| Jan 26 | @ PHI | W 4-0 |
| Jan 24 | @ WPG | L 4-5 (OT) |
| Jan 21 | vs EDM | W 1-0 |
Injury Report
Predators:
No major injuries reported as of Jan. 30; team is relatively healthy post their Jan. 29 game
Minor day-to-day issues from recent physical play, but expected full lineup.
Islanders:
Casey Cizikas (C, illness): Out for Jan. 29 game, status day-to-day
Calum Ritchie (C, lower body): Day-to-day, missed Jan. 28
Kyle Palmieri (C, knee): Out indefinitely
Pierre Engvall (LW, ankle): Out indefinitely
Unnamed D (upper body): Day-to-day
RW (illness): Day-to-day
Projected starters: Juuse Saros (NSH, .902 SV%) vs. Ilya Sorokin (NYI, .912 SV%).
Key Player Matchups
Filip Forsberg (Predators LW) vs. Noah Dobson (Islanders D): Forsberg leads Nashville with 22 goals and 45 points, on a multi-point streak; his shot volume challenges Dobson (8G, 35A), New York’s top-pair defenseman averaging 23+ minutes.
Roman Josi (Predators D) vs. Mathew Barzal (Islanders C): Josi (10G, 40A) quarterbacks Nashville’s power play (21%); Barzal (18G, 50P) brings speed to exploit gaps.
Bo Horvat (Islanders C) vs. Ryan O’Reilly (Predators C): Horvat (20G, 42P) anchors New York’s top line; O’Reilly (15G, 35P) excels in faceoffs (55%) for shutdown duties.
Goaltending Duel: Juuse Saros (Predators) vs. Ilya Sorokin (Islanders): Saros (2.75 GAA) faces New York’s stingy defense; Sorokin (recent shutouts, 2.45 GAA) exploits Nashville’s road leaks
Projected Lineups
Predators: Forsberg-O’Reilly-Nyquist; Evangelista-Novak-Marchessault; Jankowski-Parssinen-Sissons; Zucker-Suter-Smith. Defense: Josi-Fabbro; Lauzon-Carrier; Schenn-Stastney. Goalie: Saros.
Islanders: Lee-Horvat-Barzal; Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri (if available); Holmstrom-Pageau-Engvall (if available); Fasching-MacLean-Cizikas (if available). Defense: Romanov-Dobson; Reilly-Pulock; Mayfield-Bolduc. Goalie: Sorokin.
Series History
Nashville holds the all-time edge: 25-13-3-2 overall. In regular season, Predators lead 22-13-3. Recently, Nashville has won four of the last five, including a 6-3 victory on April 6, 2024. At UBS Arena, Islanders are 2-1 in the last three meetings, but Predators have outscored them 10-8.
Betting Trends
Over/Under: Over has hit in 6 of Islanders’ last 10; Under in 5 of Predators’ last 8 road games. Islanders 9-9 SU as favorites; Predators 4-6 SU in last 10 road games. New York 5-2 ATS in last 7 home; Nashville 3-7 ATS vs. East teams. Islanders 3-0 in last 3 vs. Central opponents.
Game Odds
Nashville Predators 5.5
New York Islanders – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026
