Nashville Predators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 24, 2026
The Nashville Predators will head to Pittsburgh Saturday evening for an interconference matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM Eastern, with ESPN+ coverage. The Nashville Predators come into Saturday 3-3-3, having dropped four of the last five following a six-goal road loss to Boston in their last outing. The Pittsburgh Penguins remain at home Saturday 4-6-1 overall following a four-goal victory against Florida in their last game to end a lengthy losing streak. Nashville comes into Saturday as a +114 road dog. Pittsburgh is a -135 on the moneyline, and the total is 6.5. For more NHL news, see our NHL Picks.
Nashville is in need of a win
The Nashville offense has been bad this season, averaging 2.56 goals on 24.8 shots per game. Defensively, Nashville has been even worse, allowing 3.11 goals on 29.3 shots per game, and they've given up 17 goals across their last four losses. Steven Stamkos is leading the Nashville offense this season with 10 points, along with a team-high four goals. Roman Josi is second on the team with nine points, and he leads the way with eight assists. Filip Forsberg has eight points, and Ryan O'Reilly is fourth on the team with seven points scored this season.
Justus Annunen was terrible in net for Nashville in their last outing, giving up six goals on 31 shots to post a .806 save percentage in the game. The Nashville offense was nonexistent, as they scored no goals on 28 shots.
Key Injury Report for Nashville:
- None
Pittsburgh goes for 2 in a row
The Pittsburgh offense has scored well this season, averaging 3.27 goals on 26.8 shots per game. Defensively, Pittsburgh is struggling, allowing 3.36 goals on 27.6 shots per game, and they've allowed 21 goals over their last four losses. Erik Karlsson is leading Pittsburgh this season with 11 points, and he has posted a team-high 10 assists. Evgeni Malkin is second on the team with nine points this season, and he leads the way with six goals. Tommy Novak has eight points, and Samuel Girard is fourth on the roster with seven points scored.
Arturs Silovs did the work for the Pittsburgh defense last time out, posting a shutout by saving all 26 shots he faced. Nick Robertson led the way for the Pittsburgh offense with two goals on two shots in just over 14 minutes. Evgeni Malkin and Hendrix Lapierre both chipped in heavily with one goal and one assist each.
Key Injury Report for Pittsburgh:
- Evgeni Malkin (Day-To-Day) - Oct 24
- Samuel Girard (Day-To-Day) - Oct 24
- Egor Chinakhov (Day-To-Day) - Oct 24
- Bryan Rust (IR) - Dec 5
- Ben Kindel (IR) - Oct 29
Nashville Predators vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -135
Pittsburgh should have the advantage Saturday evening against a Nashville team that will need to improve its defensive execution after a difficult performance against Boston. The Predators were shut out Thursday, raising concerns about their ability to generate consistent offense against opponents that establish control early. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is coming off a shutout victory against Florida and should enter this matchup with confidence on both ends of the ice. Sidney Crosby remains an important part of the Penguins offensive attack, and Pittsburgh should look to use its experienced forwards to create scoring opportunities against Nashville's defense. The Predators have enough talent to respond after their disappointing performance, but Pittsburgh's ability to control possession and capitalize on defensive mistakes could be the difference. Take the Penguins to win at home.
Pick: Under 6.5
Nashville's offensive struggles against Boston and Pittsburgh's recent defensive performance make the under worth considering Saturday evening. The Predators failed to score in their previous outing and will need to find ways to generate more quality opportunities rather than relying on shots from the perimeter. Pittsburgh should look to establish a structured defensive approach after shutting out Florida, particularly against a Nashville team that will be attempting to regain its confidence offensively. The Penguins have enough scoring talent to produce several goals, but they may not need an especially high-scoring performance to secure the victory. Nashville should also place additional emphasis on defensive execution after allowing six goals against Boston. Expect a more controlled contest, with Pittsburgh doing enough offensively to win while the combined score remains under the posted total.