Predators vs Penguins Picks and Prediction – 2/2/2025

This Saturday, Steven Stamkos and the Nashville Predators will travel to PPG Paints Arena to take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a cross-conference matchup. Get our free NHL Picks all season long! The Predators enter the game with an 18-24-7 record, looking to bounce back after a 3-1 loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. Stamkos has been the leader for Nashville, bringing his veteran presence and scoring ability to a team that has struggled with consistency.

Nashville has relied on Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, and Roman Josi to generate offense, but defensive breakdowns have been a recurring issue. To challenge Pittsburgh, the Predators will need to clean up their defensive zone play and capitalize on special team chances.

The Penguins, sitting at 21-24-8, are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against Utah on Wednesday. Crosby continues to be the driving force for Pittsburgh, leading by example and producing at an elite level. Supported by Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, the Penguins will look to build on their recent victory and take advantage of Nashville’s defensive struggles.

For Pittsburgh, maintaining offensive pressure and limiting Nashville’s scoring chances will be key. Crosby will look to control the tempo, while the Penguins’ defense and goaltending focus on shutting down Stamkos and Forsberg.

This matchup highlights Stamkos’ goal-scoring ability against Crosby’s all-around leadership in a battle between two veteran stars. While Nashville has the firepower to keep things close, Pittsburgh’s home-ice advantage and ability to execute in key moments could give them the edge. Take the Penguins to win this one at home. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Penguins win 4-2.