The Nashville Predators (19-19-4) hit the ice against the New York Islanders (24-15-4) during Thursday's NHL slate, starting at 8 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena and broadcast on ESPN+. The Predators rank 12th in the Western Conference with 42 points and the Islanders are fifth in the Eastern Conference with 52 points.
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Predators vs. Islanders: Jan. 8 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Venue: Bridgestone Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Predators' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.81 | 25th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.38 | 28th |
| Shots | 27.9 | 18th |
| Shots Allowed | 28.3 | 17th |
| Power Play % | 19.84% | 15th |
| Penalty Kill % | 81.4% | 12th |
Islanders' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.91 | 22nd |
| Goals Allowed | 2.7 | 5th |
| Shots | 27.8 | 19th |
| Shots Allowed | 28.2 | 16th |
| Power Play % | 15.91% | 27th |
| Penalty Kill % | 81.82% | 8th |
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Predators vs. Islanders Top Players
Predators
- Ryan O'Reilly is one of Nashville's top contributors this season with 36 points. He has averaged 0.3 goals per game, shooting 16.2%.
- With 16 goals and 15 assists, Filip Forsberg is one of the top offensive options for Nashville with his 31 points (0.7 per game).
- Nashville's offensive effort is aided by Luke Evangelista's 31 points. He's contributed 25 assists.
- As Nashville's top goalie, Juuse Saros has recorded 16 wins and 14 losses this season while allowing 97 goals with 820 saves.
Islanders
- Mathew Barzal has scored 11 goals (0.3 per game) and put up 24 assists (0.6 per game), fueling the New York offense with 35 total points (0.8 per game). He averages 2.3 shots per game, shooting 11.3%.
- Bo Horvat is a key piece of the offense for New York with 33 total points this season. He has scored 21 goals and added 12 assists in 36 games.
- New York's Matthew Schaefer is among the top offensive players on the team with 29 total points (12 goals and 17 assists).
- Ilya Sorokin is 13-10-2 on the season, allowing 61 goals (2.4 goals against average) and amassing 656 saves with a .915 save percentage (eighth-best in the league).
Predators vs. Islanders Injury Report
Predators
Ozzy Wiesblatt: Out (Upper Body),
Jonathan Marchessault: Day-To-Day (Lower Body)
Islanders
Bo Horvat: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),
Alexander Romanov: Out For Season (Upper Body),
Semyon Varlamov: Out (Knee),
Kyle Palmieri: Out (Knee),
Pierre Engvall: Out (Ankle)
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Predators' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1/2026 | Kraken | L 4-1 | Away |
| 1/3/2026 | Flames | W 4-3 | Away |
| 1/6/2026 | Oilers | L 6-2 | Away |
| 1/8/2026 | Islanders | - | Home |
| 1/10/2026 | Blackhawks | - | Home |
| 1/11/2026 | Capitals | - | Home |
| 1/13/2026 | Oilers | - | Home |
Islanders' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1/2026 | Mammoth | L 7-2 | Home |
| 1/3/2026 | Maple Leafs | W 4-3 | Home |
| 1/6/2026 | Devils | W 9-0 | Home |
| 1/8/2026 | Predators | - | Away |
| 1/10/2026 | Wild | - | Away |
| 1/13/2026 | Jets | - | Away |
| 1/15/2026 | Oilers | - | Away |