Predators vs ducks takes center stage Tuesday night at 10 p. m. ET when the Nashville Predators visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The matchup comes with projected lineups, a short injury list, and a few notable returns and scratches on both sides. Broadcast coverage is set for +.
Projected lineups and late changes
The Predators are listed with Zachary L’Heureux, Ryan O’Reilly, and Steven Stamkos on the first line, followed by Filip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, and Jonathan Marchessault. Tyson Jost, Erik Haula, and Luke Evangelista make up the third line, while Reid Schaefer, Fedor Svechkov, and Joakim Kemell are projected on the fourth. Jordan Oesterle and Ozzy Wiesblatt are scratched.
On the Ducks side, Mikael Granlund, Leo Carlsson, and Beckett Sennecke are projected together, with Chris Kreider, Ryan Poehling, and Troy Terry on the next line. Alex Killorn, Mason McTavish, and Jeffrey Viel fill another forward group. The Ducks also have injuries listed for Jansen Harkins, Ross Johnston, Radko Gudas, and Cutter Gauthier.
Predators vs ducks matchup details
Predators vs ducks also comes with a few roster updates that shape the night. The Predators did not hold a morning skate after their 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. For Anaheim, Pavel Mintyukov is expected back after missing the past three games and four of five with a lower-body injury, while Frank Vatrano is set to return after being a healthy scratch for a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Jackson LaCombe is not listed among the available Ducks skaters in the context, and defenseman Olen Zellweger is expected to be a healthy scratch for the third time this season. Cutter Gauthier, a forward, will miss his fourth straight game and remains day to day. Nathan Gaucher was returned to San Diego of the American Hockey League on Monday.
Immediate reaction and what it means
The most immediate takeaway is that both teams enter the night with lineup movement that could affect early rhythm. With Mintyukov back and Vatrano returning, the Ducks have some reinforcements available, while the Predators are still adjusting after a shootout loss and without a morning skate. The setup keeps Predators vs ducks tight, even before puck drop.
Broader context is limited to the standings note in the game preview: Anaheim is fifth in the Western Conference, while Nashville sits ninth. That gap adds weight to the meeting without changing the basic picture of a late-season road test for the Predators and a home game with roster decisions still in play.
What comes next
All eyes now shift to how the projected lines hold up once the game begins at 10 p. m. ET. If the listed returns for Anaheim stick and the scratches remain unchanged, Predators vs ducks should open with both clubs trying to settle quickly into a game shaped by lineup adjustments and recent injury management.
