The New Jersey Devils will face the Nashville Predators on March 26 as part of their ongoing five-game road trip, with puck drop scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Eastern Time at Bridgestone Arena.
This game is significant for both teams as they each enter the contest playing some of their best hockey of the season and are fighting for playoff positioning. The Devils, currently holding a record of 36-32-2, have won four out of their last five games and seven out of their last ten. The Predators stand at 34-28-9 and are on a five-game winning streak, also going 7-2-1 over their past ten contests.
Jack Hughes has been central to New Jersey’s recent success, carrying a six-game point streak with five goals and seven assists during that span. Jesper Bratt has matched Hughes’ consistency with his own six-game point run. The team’s offensive output was highlighted by a four-goal first period in their recent win over Dallas.
Nashville presents a strong challenge at home with a record of 20-13-3 at Bridgestone Arena. Filip Forsberg leads the Predators offensively and brings his own five-game point streak into the matchup. Veteran players like Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos provide additional scoring depth; Stamkos leads Nashville in goals this season.
In terms of injuries, the Devils will be without Brett Pesce (lower body), Stefan Noesen (knee), Zack MacEwen (upper body), and Arseni Gritsyuk (undisclosed). The Predators report no current injuries.
Looking ahead, both teams excel when leading after two periods—New Jersey remains undefeated in such situations this season—while special teams could play an important role given Nashville’s strong power play unit against New Jersey’s disciplined penalty record.
