The Nashville Predators host the Columbus Blue Jackets in a season opener on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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As teams hit the ice for the beginning of the NHL season, here is who we predict will emerge victorious in Thursday's action.

Our computer model for this encounter expects a final tally of Blue Jackets 4, Predators 3.

The Predators went 6-8-14 in overtime games last season on their way to an overall record of 30-44-8.
Nashville was 9-9-8 (26 points) in its 26 games decided by one goal.
In the 13 games last season the Predators registered just one goal, they lost every time.
Nashville took 14 points from the 22 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (4-12-6 record).
The Predators scored more than two goals 37 times, and went 26-10-1 in those games (to register 53 points).
In the 29 games when Nashville scored a lone power-play goal, it picked up 27 points by finishing 12-14-3.
In games when it outshot its opponent, Nashville was 18-18-5 (41 points).
The Predators were outshot by their opponent in 39 games, going 12-24-3 to register 27 points.

The Blue Jackets had a 40-33-9 record last season, and were 10-9-19 in contests that went to overtime.
Columbus picked up 22 points (7-7-8) in its 22 games decided by one goal.
Last season the Blue Jackets scored just one goal in seven games, and they picked up two points (0-5-2).
Columbus picked up nine points (4-10-1 record) last season when scoring exactly two goals .
The Blue Jackets picked up 76 points in their 51 games when they scored at least three goals.
Columbus scored a single power-play goal in 28 games last season and recorded 38 points.
When outshooting its opponent last season, Columbus was 18-12-4 (40 points).
The Blue Jackets' opponents had more shots in 41 games last season. The Blue Jackets finished 19-17-5 in those contests (43 points).

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