Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1, 2025

The Calgary Flames arrive at Bridgestone Arena on November 1, 2025, carrying the weight of a difficult start to their season. With a 2-8-2 record through their first 12 games, the Flames desperately need to find their footing against a Nashville Predators team that has experienced its own struggles. The afternoon matchup presents an opportunity for both clubs to gain momentum as the calendar turns to November.

Nashville enters the contest with a 4-6-2 record, dealing with significant injury concerns on their blue line. The absence of captain Roman Josi looms large for the Predators, who are searching for consistency after dropping their most recent contest 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. Both teams will be looking to shake off recent disappointments and build some positive momentum in this Saturday matinee clash.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Flames’ forward combinations

The Flames’ projected forward lines showcase a blend of veteran leadership and youthful energy as they seek to break out of their early-season slump. The top line features Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Morgan Frost, a combination that brings playmaking ability and offensive creativity. Huberdeau and Kadri are tasked with carrying much of the scoring load for Calgary, though both veterans have faced challenges in the early going.

The second line pairs Joel Farabee with Yegor Sharangovich and Matt Coronato, offering a mix of skill and finishing ability. Sharangovich has shown flashes of his scoring touch in previous seasons, while Coronato represents one of the Flames’ promising young talents looking to establish himself at the NHL level. This line will need to contribute offensively if Calgary hopes to generate enough goals to compete consistently.

Mikael Backlund anchors the third line between Samuel Honzek and Blake Coleman, bringing his characteristic two-way reliability. Coleman remains one of the Flames’ most consistent performers, offering grit, penalty-killing prowess, and timely offensive contributions. The veteran leadership on this line provides stability that Calgary desperately needs during this challenging stretch.

The fourth line consists of Ryan Lomberg, Justin Kirkland, and Adam Klapka, focusing on energy and physical play. This unit’s responsibility is to provide momentum through forechecking pressure and maintain intensity throughout the game. With the Flames struggling to find wins, contributions from all four lines become essential, making depth scoring a critical factor in their ability to compete.

Connor Zary finds himself as a healthy scratch for this matchup, while Martin Pospisil and Zayne Parekh remain sidelined with undisclosed injuries. These absences continue to test Calgary’s depth and force head coach Ryan Huska to shuffle his lineup combinations.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Predators’ offensive setup

Nashville’s forward group features an impressive collection of veteran talent led by Filip Forsberg on the top line alongside Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Evangelista. Forsberg remains the Predators’ most dangerous offensive weapon, consistently creating scoring chances with his quick release and hockey IQ. O’Reilly brings his Selke Trophy-caliber defensive play while contributing six points through Nashville’s first 12 games, with four goals and four assists.

The second line showcases the star power of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault flanking Erik Haula. This trio represents the significant offseason investments made by Predators general manager Barry Trotz to elevate the team’s scoring potential. Stamkos, a legendary goal scorer throughout his career, and Marchessault, fresh off a Stanley Cup championship, provide Nashville with game-breaking ability on this line.

Fedor Svechkov centers the third line between Michael Bunting and Matthew Wood, offering a combination of experience and youth. Wood, one of Nashville’s highly-regarded prospects, continues to earn opportunities at the NHL level and brings offensive upside to this unit. Bunting provides veteran presence and net-front presence, skills that complement Svechkov’s playmaking abilities.

The fourth line features Cole Smith, Michael McCarron, and Ozzy Wiesblatt, providing the physical presence and energy necessary to wear down opponents. McCarron’s size and reach make him a difficult matchup for opposing defenders, while Smith brings speed and forechecking tenacity. This depth scoring has been crucial for Nashville as they navigate their own inconsistent start.

Tyson Jost sits out as a healthy scratch, while the Predators deal with significant injuries to their roster. The absence of Roman Josi represents a substantial blow to Nashville’s overall lineup, affecting both their power play and defensive zone coverage.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Defensive pairings analysis

Calgary’s blue line features Rasmus Andersson paired with Kevin Bahl on the top pairing. Andersson serves as the Flames’ quarterback on the power play and logging heavy minutes in all situations. His ability to move the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone and contribute offensively makes him Calgary’s most valuable defenseman. Bahl provides size and physical presence alongside Andersson’s offensive instincts.

The second pairing pairs MacKenzie Weegar with Joel Hanley, offering a veteran presence on Calgary’s back end. Weegar signed a significant contract with the Flames and is expected to be a cornerstone of their defense for years to come. His mobility and two-way capabilities make him effective in transition, while Hanley brings reliability and steady positioning.

Jake Bean and Brayden Pachal round out the Flames’ defensive rotation on the third pairing. Bean offers offensive upside from the back end with his skating ability and willingness to join the rush. Pachal provides a more stay-at-home presence, focusing on defensive zone coverage and physical play along the boards. This pairing must provide solid minutes to help Calgary manage their defensive responsibilities.

Nashville’s defense corps faces significant challenges without Roman Josi, their captain and Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman. Brady Skjei steps into an elevated role alongside Nick Perbix on the top pairing, bringing his offensive capabilities and mobility. Skjei’s experience makes him crucial to helping Nashville navigate Josi’s absence, though replacing a player of that caliber remains nearly impossible.

Nicolas Hague pairs with Nick Blankenburg on the second unit after Blankenburg replaced the injured Adam Wilsby in Nashville’s previous game against Philadelphia. Hague brings size at 6-foot-6 and reach that makes him difficult to play against in front of the net. Spencer Stastney and Justin Barron form the third pairing, providing depth as the Predators manage their injury situation on the blue line.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Goaltending matchup expectations

Dustin Wolf likely gets the starting assignment for Calgary after Devin Cooley made 35 saves in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators. Wolf, one of the Flames’ top goaltending prospects, has earned opportunities this season as Calgary evaluates their netminding situation. His performance will be critical given the Flames’ struggles to generate consistent offensive support.

Wolf’s quickness and athleticism make him an exciting goaltender to watch, though he faces the challenge of finding consistency behind a team struggling defensively. The 23-year-old netminder needs to provide steady goaltending if Calgary hopes to climb out of their early-season hole. His ability to make timely saves and give his team confidence will be essential factors in this matchup.

Between the pipes for Nashville, Juuse Saros stands as one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders. The Finnish netminder has been Nashville’s backbone for several seasons, consistently posting excellent numbers despite facing heavy workloads. Saros’s positioning, reflexes, and compete level make him capable of stealing games for the Predators when they need it most.

Saros will look to bounce back after Nashville’s loss to Philadelphia, where the team struggled to provide adequate defensive support. His ability to read plays and control rebounds makes him particularly effective, though even elite goaltending can only compensate for so much when team defense breaks down. The Predators need Saros to return to his Vezina Trophy-caliber form if they hope to turn their season around.

Justus Annunen serves as Nashville’s backup goaltender, providing depth behind Saros. The former Colorado Avalanche netminder joined the Predators organization and offers a capable option if Saros needs rest. However, with Nashville seeking consistency, Saros likely receives the majority of starts as they work to improve their record.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Key injury situations impacting both teams

The injury report significantly impacts both rosters heading into this November 1st contest. For Calgary, Martin Pospisil remains out with an undisclosed injury, removing a physical presence from their forward group. Pospisil’s absence affects the Flames’ ability to play with edge and intensity, qualities they desperately need during this difficult stretch.

Zayne Parekh’s continued absence also affects Calgary’s defensive depth, though the young defenseman was still working to establish himself at the NHL level. These injuries force the Flames to rely more heavily on their available personnel and test the organizational depth that general management has assembled.

Nashville faces the most significant injury challenge with Roman Josi sidelined due to an upper-body injury. The Predators captain logs massive minutes in all situations and serves as the heartbeat of Nashville’s defensive structure. His absence on the power play particularly hurts the Predators, as Josi typically quarterbacks their man-advantage units with his elite passing and shot.

Adam Wilsby’s lower-body injury further depletes Nashville’s defensive depth, forcing Nick Blankenburg into the lineup against Philadelphia. The Predators must find ways to compensate for losing two regular defensemen, placing additional pressure on Brady Skjei, Nicolas Hague, and the rest of the blue line corps to elevate their games.

Managing these injuries becomes crucial for both coaching staffs as they navigate lineup decisions and ice time distribution. The teams that can best adapt to their personnel challenges often find success during the grueling 82-game regular season schedule.

Calgary Flames vs Nashville Predators projected lineup November 1 2025: Strategic considerations and matchup implications

This afternoon matchup at Bridgestone Arena carries significant implications for both franchises as they seek to correct course early in the 2025-26 campaign. Calgary’s 2-8-2 start has placed immediate pressure on the organization, with questions mounting about coaching decisions, roster construction, and long-term direction. A win in Nashville could provide the spark needed to begin a turnaround.

The Flames must find ways to generate more consistent offensive production while tightening up defensively. Their struggles in both areas have contributed to the poor record, making it essential that all four lines contribute and the defensive pairings provide steady play. Special teams performance also becomes critical, as power play success and penalty killing effectiveness often determine outcomes in closely contested games.

Nashville faces its own urgency despite having a slightly better record at 4-6-2. The Predators invested heavily in free agency to become playoff contenders, making their inconsistent start concerning for the organization. With Josi sidelined, other players must step up and shoulder additional responsibilities, particularly on the power play and in defensive zone coverage.

The coaching matchup features Ryan Huska behind the Calgary bench against Andrew Brunette for Nashville. Both coaches face scrutiny given their teams’ early-season performances, making this game significant for job security and organizational confidence. The tactical adjustments and lineup decisions made by each staff could prove decisive in determining the outcome.

Looking ahead, this game represents more than just two points in the standings. For Calgary, it’s an opportunity to build some momentum and prove they can compete against Western Conference opponents. For Nashville, playing at home without their captain tests their depth and character. The team that executes their game plan most effectively and receives strong goaltending will likely emerge victorious as both clubs search for solutions to their early-season struggles. How these lineups perform and whether injuries continue to hamper Nashville’s defensive structure will shape both teams’ trajectories as November progresses and the season hits its stride.