The Nashville Predators (27-24-7) could be a vastly different team after the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, so fresh off the Winter Olympic break, they came out with a lot of chemistry in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks (22-27-9). The game was neck and neck, with Nashville’s 23 shots on goal actually lower than Chicago’s, but the Predators pulled through in what could be one of the last home games with the core still together.
Game Recap
The first period started off Nashville’s way, with Filip Forsberg scoring on a beautiful shot that went off the post and in at 13:50. The Blackhawks countered in the second, with young center Connor Bedard cashing in on a great find by Ryan Greene to make it 1-1 at 4:13.
In the third period, Chicago’s power play, which had been off all night, finally came through, with Tyler Bertuzzi capitalizing from the goal mouth to make it 2-1 at 3:16 of the third. But from that point on, it was all Predators. Matthew Wood tied it with his own power-play goal at 7:12 in the period, then Ryan O’Reilly scored the go-ahead goal at 16:44 to make it 3-2. Steven Stamkos scored an empty-netter to reach the final score of 4-2.
Predators’ Penalty Kill Stands Out
The Predators’ penalty kill was arguably the biggest reason why they won the game. They have the 13th-ranked PK unit in the league, stopping their opponents 80% of the time they’re on the power play.
That is exactly what happened against the Blackhawks. Nashville took five penalties, including a double minor by Erik Haula for high-sticking Ryan Donato, but they shut down all but one scoring chance on the man advantage for the Blackhawks. That is why, despite the Blackhawks outshooting the Predators 26-23, Nashville was able to rally and win it at home.
Flashing The Core One More Time
To many, the Predators seem like an ideal candidate to sell at the trade deadline. They have plenty of veterans that would help teams that are contending for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and while they’re just two points behind the playoff line of the Western Conference, they’re still in desperate need of a rebuild, boasting one of the shallowest prospect pools in the league.
In this game, a few of them got to show off in front of the home fans. O’Reilly knocked in the go-ahead goal to win it, Stamkos scored an empty-netter, and Erik Haula had an assist. All of them have been considered trade targets at one point.
Related: Predators Are Prepared to Sell into a Winning Streak
It’s crazy to think that less than two years ago, the Predators signed Stamkos to put them over the top as a franchise, but if this is truly the end of Stamkos and O’Reilly’s tenures, it will hopefully bear the fruits of a successful rebuild from it.
Stamkos Goes Further Up in the Record Books
Speaking of Stamkos, his season has been full of historic moments. He notched his 600th career goal on New Year’s Eve in 2025, and against the Blackhawks, he scored No. 611, which passed Bobby Hull for the 19th most in history.
He is third among all active players behind Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (652) and Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin (919). He is within 15 of both Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla (625), within 30 of Dave Andreychuk (640), and 45 away from Brendan Shanahan (656). He could feasibly reach the top 15 in a year or two if he keeps up this pace.
Standings and Schedule
The Predators are still fifth in the Central Division, and with 61 points, they’re just two behind the Seattle Kraken (63) for the final playoff spot. Considering last season’s record, it’s impressive how much Nashville’s already achieved, but they will close February with a road matchup against the Dallas Stars (Feb. 28) and start the month at home against the Detroit Red Wings (March 2). Those are tough opponents, so it remains to be seen if Nashville can keep up the forward momentum.
