Senators Edge Predators in Thrilling Shootout Finish

What we said beforehand

The Ottawa Senators will welcome the Nashville Predators to the Canadian Tire Centre on October 10, 2026, in a matchup that promises to be intriguing for fans. The Senators come into this game with a home record of 3-1-0 and will look to leverage their strong home performance against a Predators team that has shown some resilience with a 2-1-1 away record.

Ottawa has had a mixed bag of results in their last five games, winning three and losing two. They recently lost to the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 4-2 on September 26, followed by a narrow victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning 3-2 on October 3. They then secured a solid 4-1 win against the Boston Bruins on October 5, but fell short against the Detroit Red Wings, losing 5-3 on October 6. Their most recent game saw them edge out the Philadelphia Flyers with a 2-1 victory on October 8. This gives the Senators an average of 3.0 goals scored and 2.0 goals allowed in their last five outings.

The Predators, on the other hand, have also had a rollercoaster of results recently, winning two and losing three of their last five games. They suffered a heavy defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes, falling 6-0 on September 26. This was followed by a loss to the Minnesota Wild, where they lost 3-1 on October 2. However, they bounced back with a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on October 4 and narrowly lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a thrilling 5-4 overtime game on October 6. The Predators then secured a convincing 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on October 8. Their recent form shows an average of 3.2 goals scored and 3.2 goals allowed in their last five games.

When it comes to home versus away performance, the Senators have excelled at home with an 8-2 record in their last ten games and a current streak of one win. They have averaged 3.8 goals scored and allowed only 2.0 goals per game during this stretch. The Predators have struggled slightly more on the road, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games and a current streak of one win. Their average scoring during this period is 2.8 goals, while they have allowed 2.7 goals per game.

In terms of head-to-head meetings, the Senators have faced the Predators twice this season and have yet to secure a victory, with a record of 0-2 against them. Their last encounter was on January 23, 2026, where they lost 5-3, and they also fell 4-1 at home to the Predators on October 13, 2025.

Injury news could play a significant role in this matchup. The Senators have several players on the injury list, including William Eklund, who is on Injured Reserve due to an ankle injury, and Artem Zub, who is also on Injured Reserve with a knee issue. Additionally, Cameron Crotty and Jake Sanderson are both listed as Day-To-Day with illness and a lower body injury, respectively. Kurtis MacDermid is another player on Injured Reserve due to an upper body injury. The Predators will be without Mavrik Bourque, who is out with an upper body injury, and Justus Annunen, who is on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed injury.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, has set the odds with the Senators as the favorites at -162, while the Predators are at +136. The spread is set at -1.5 for the Senators, with a total of 5.5 goals for the game. The odds for the over are -130, and for the under, they are at +110.

As the game approaches, viewers will want to keep an eye on Tim Stutzle, who leads the Senators with three goals and three assists for a total of six points. For the Predators, Steven Stamkos also has three goals and six points, while Roman Josi leads in assists with four. The performance of these key players could be pivotal in determining the outcome of this matchup.

With both teams looking to solidify their standings early in the season, this game promises to be a competitive affair. The Senators will aim to leverage their home advantage while the Predators will be eager to continue their recent form and overcome their previous defeats against Ottawa.