NHL Game Preview: Nashville Predators (8-4-5) vs. Los Angeles Kings (5-8-2)

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Los Angeles Kings logo

Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+ (U.S.); Sportsnet equivalents in Canada

This is the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between the teams.

Injury Reports

Nashville Predators

Jonathan Marchessault (C/W): Day-to-day (lower body) – missed recent action (including the Nov. 7 game vs. St. Louis); status for this game is uncertain.

William Trudeau (D): Out (upper body) – on injured reserve.

The Predators are relatively healthy otherwise and riding strong form.

Los Angeles Kings

Mats Zuccarello (RW): Out (upper body) – week-to-week / IR.

Kevin Fiala (LW): Out (lower leg) – on IR, expected multi-week absence.

Jakub Dvorak (D): Out (upper body).

Jan Jenik (C): Out (undisclosed / non-roster IR).

Key offensive pieces are missing for the Kings, which has contributed to their early-season struggles.

Current Rosters / Key Players

Predators key contributors:
Forwards – Filip Forsberg (leading scorer with strong production, ~5G-15A), Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi (from the blue line but impacts offense heavily), Ryan O’Reilly, Nils Hoglander, Ross Colton, and others providing secondary scoring.
Defense – Roman Josi (heavy minutes and production), Brady Skjei, Nick Perbix.
Goaltending – Juuse Saros (primary starter, solid numbers ~.911 SV%, 2.62 GAA) and Justus Annunen.

Kings key contributors:
Forwards – Artemi Panarin (team leader in scoring, ~8G-10A), Adrian Kempe, Alex Laferriere, Quinton Byfield (if available in current lineup context).
Defense – Drew Doughty, Brandt Clarke (offensive contributions from the back end).
Goaltending – Darcy Kuemper (primary option, struggling sample ~.878) and Anton Forsberg.

Key Player vs. Player Matchups

Filip Forsberg / Steven Stamkos vs. Drew Doughty / Brandt Clarke: Nashville’s top offensive threats will test the Kings’ veteran defense. Forsberg’s playmaking and Stamkos’s shot remain elite.

Artemi Panarin / Adrian Kempe vs. Roman Josi and Nashville’s top defensive pair: Panarin has been the Kings’ primary creator; Josi’s two-way game and minutes will be critical in containing him.

Special teams battle: Nashville boasts an elite power play (~29.8%, top-5) and one of the league’s best penalty kills (~88.5%). Los Angeles’s PP is respectable (~23%), but its PK ranks near the bottom (~62.5%). Discipline heavily favors the Predators.

Recent Team Forms

Predators (last 10: 6-2-2): Hot streak, including a four-game win streak entering this contest. Strong defensive structure (2.82 GA/GP, top-10) and opportunistic offense (~3.00 GF/GP). Road record is solid enough (~2-1-3). Recent results include wins over St. Louis, Colorado (OT), and Carolina.

Kings (last 10: 5-5-0): Inconsistent and struggling at home (~2-5-0). Allowing too many goals (3.47 GA/GP) while matching Nashville’s scoring average (~3.00). Recent results mixed, including a loss to Pittsburgh and a big win over San Jose. Missing key forwards has limited consistency.

Series History

First meeting of the 2026-27 season. Recent head-to-head games have often been tight and competitive, with several decided in overtime or shootouts in prior seasons. Nashville has generally held its own in the matchup.

Betting Trends

Nashville has been strong ATS and is riding momentum with elite special teams. Kings have been poor at home and vulnerable on the PK. Overs have been in play in some recent Kings games due to defensive issues.

Nashville’s hot streak, elite special teams, and goaltending edge with Saros give them the advantage on the road. The Kings have enough skill (Panarin, Kempe) to stay competitive at home, but absences and defensive issues (especially the PK) should prove costly. Expect a competitive, relatively high-event game decided by Nashville’s ability to capitalize on power-play opportunities.

Game Odds

Nashville Predators        6

Los Angeles Kings            – 140

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Monday, November 9, 2026

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