The Nashville Predators are set to conclude their longest homestand of the 2025-26 NHL season with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday evening at Bridgestone Arena. The game will start at 6:45 PM CT, a deviation from the typical 7 PM CT start, to align with staggered game times across the league as all 32 NHL teams take to the ice.
This encounter marks the first of two meetings this season between Nashville and Tampa Bay, with the Predators scheduled to visit Florida for the second match on March 29. Last season, the Predators faced a tough challenge against the Lightning, losing both encounters in overtime—first, a narrow 3-2 defeat in Tampa, and later again with the same score at home where Roman Josi scored both goals for Nashville.
Following a brief two-game winning streak, the Predators faced a setback on Sunday with a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nashville initially surged ahead with goals from Jonathan Marchessault and Spencer Stastney, but Dallas countered with three unanswered goals to claim victory.
As the Predators prepare for the Lightning, they are navigating some injury challenges. Captain Roman Josi is classified as week-to-week due to an upper-body injury. On a more positive note, Marchessault has returned to the lineup after dealing with a lower-body issue. In contrast, the Lightning’s Nick Paul is on long-term injured reserve, and Max Crozier is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Tuesday’s game will be pivotal for the Predators, who recently had their impressive home penalty-kill streak snapped after successfully stopping the first 22 opponent power-play attempts this season. Despite this defeat, Nashville still boasts one of the league’s top penalty-kill units at 88.9%, ranking sixth overall. However, their power-play efficiency has room for improvement, currently sitting at the bottom of the NHL.
Ryan O’Reilly has been a standout player for Nashville, leading the team with nine points, including five goals. He is on a roll, extending his point streak to five games after contributing an assist in the recent loss against Dallas.
For the Lightning, a recent surge has seen them secure their first consecutive wins of the season, including a recent 2-1 overtime triumph against the Vegas Golden Knights. Tampa Bay’s power play is operating at 16.1%, ranking them 23rd in the NHL, while their penalty-kill unit is thriving at 90.3%.
Historically, the Predators and Lightning are closely matched, with Nashville holding a slight edge in all-time meetings at 19-18-9. The team looks to improve its standing and reverse a recent trend of struggling against Tampa Bay, winning just two of their last ten encounters.
As both teams gear up for this clash, fans can expect an exciting evening of hockey filled with potential for standout performances and critical plays that could make a difference in the standings.