The Nashville Predators (29-43-8, 64 points) host the Utah Hockey Club (37-30-13, 87 points) for their penultimate game of the season Monday at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators are looking to complete the season sweep of their Central Division rivals after winning the first two games of the series. Nashville won a 4-0 shutout against Utah at home on Nov. 9 and claimed a 4-3 shootout win last week in Salt Lake City.
Predators defensive prospect Ryan Ufko, who was recalled Monday from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, will make his NHL debut against Utah. Originally drafted by Nashville in the fourth round (No. 115 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Ufko made his pro debut with Milwaukee last season after three collegiate seasons at UMass Amherst.
Ufko has recorded 35 points (9 goals, 26 assists) and three power-play goals in 80 AHL games. He is the seventh player to make their NHL debut for the Predators this season, joining Zachary L’Heureux, Joakim Kemell, Fedor Svechkov, Adam Wilsby, Ozzy Wiesblatt and Matthew Wood. Ufko will draw into the Predators’ lineup Monday in place of defenseman Andreas Englund, who is out with an illness.
Hot lap number 7 for the #Preds this season: Ryan Ufko pic.twitter.com/2MWMgRDPFz
— Emma Lingan (@emma_lingan) April 14, 2025
How Nashville Lined Up vs. Utah
Forsberg-O’Reilly-Evangelista
Bunting-Stamkos-Wood
L’Heureux-Svechkov-Marchessault
Smith-McCarron-Vrana
Skjei-Blankenburg
Oesterle-Barron
Del Gaizo-Ufko
Saros
Annunen
Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body), Englund (illness)
IR: Lauzon, Wilsby, Josi
Nashville Predators vs. Utah Hockey Club: Live Updates
First Period (NSH 1, UTA 2)
The Predators were gifted an early 5-on-3 advantage when Barrett Hayton was whistled for tripping just 20 seconds into a Kevin Stenlund slashing penalty. Nashville managed six shots on goal but couldn’t capitalize at 5-on-3. Ryan O’Reilly finally found the back of the net just as the second penalty was set to expire, giving the Predators a 1-0 lead at the 6:10 mark of the first period.
Got the X Factor 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/nK2p5k6cZy
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 15, 2025
Michael Kesserling got Utah on the board with a laser from the top of the circle that beat Juuse Saros to tie the game at 1-1 at the 12:30 mark.
Nick Bjugstad gave Utah its first lead of the game when he buried a shot from the goal line at the 18:21 mark of the period. Utah carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, while shots were 15-11 in favor of Nashville.
Second Period (NSH 1, UTA 2)
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