Roman Josi Hits 1,000-Game Milestone as Predators Look to Bounce Back vs. Senators
Tonight marks a milestone moment in Nashville - and not just because the Predators are looking to snap a two-game skid. Roman Josi, the heartbeat of this franchise, is set to skate in his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Predators, as they host the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena.
Puck drops at 7 p.m. CT.
Josi becomes just the 84th player in league history to reach 1,000 regular-season games with a single franchise - a testament to both his elite skill set and his unwavering commitment to the Preds. And with Nashville looking to respond after a disappointing loss to Buffalo, there’s no shortage of motivation in the building.
Getting Back on Track
Tuesday’s loss to the Sabres was a tale of two games. Nashville fell into a 4-0 hole early and couldn’t dig out, dropping back-to-back games for the first time since before Thanksgiving. But the second half of that game showed signs of life - and that’s the version of the Preds they’ll need tonight.
“We're a great team in here, we just have to play like it,” said Filip Forsberg after Tuesday’s defeat. “We can't keep giving teams big leads.
We’re a heck of a team when we play the way we did in the second and the third. We lost the game in the first period.
Simple as that.”
The Predators have two games left on this homestand, and they’ll be aiming to recapture the energy and execution they showed in the latter stages of that Sabres game - not the sluggish start that put them in a hole.
Lineup Notes
Nashville got a boost Tuesday with the return of winger Ozzy Wiesblatt, who was activated from Injured Reserve after missing 21 games due to an upper-body injury. Forward Reid Schaefer was reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) earlier in the day, while defenseman Adam Wilsby remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Tyson Jost was the team’s lone healthy scratch on Tuesday.
Who’s Hot for the Preds
Even in the loss, there were bright spots. Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg both put up three-point nights - O’Reilly with two goals and an assist, Forsberg with one and two. O’Reilly continues to lead the team with 47 points (18g-29a), while Forsberg has been heating up with 19 goals and 39 points on the year.
Steven Stamkos remains Nashville’s top goal scorer with 21, and Luke Evangelista has quietly been a consistent playmaker, with 28 assists and 35 points so far.
In net, Juuse Saros took the loss Tuesday and now sits at 19-16-3. Justus Annunen, the backup, holds a 4-6-1 record.
Josi’s Legacy in Focus
As Josi hits the 1,000-game mark, his resume speaks for itself. He’s the franchise leader in both assists (554) and points (752), a Norris Trophy winner in 2020, a four-time NHL All-Star, and a three-time selection to the NHL’s First All-Star Team. Since being named captain in 2017, he’s been the face of the franchise and one of the league’s most consistent and dynamic defensemen.
He also holds the distinction of being the highest-scoring Swiss-born player in NHL history and will become just the second Swiss player ever to reach 1,000 games, joining former teammate Nino Niederreiter.
Josi has been on a tear lately, too. He was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week on Monday after racking up seven points (2g-5a) in three games, including a two-goal, overtime-winning performance against Edmonton on Jan.
- From Jan. 11-17, he posted four straight multi-point games - the first time he’s done that since a five-game stretch back in March 2024.
Since Dec. 23, no NHL defenseman has scored more goals than Josi (6), and since Jan. 11, he leads all blueliners in points (10) and is tied for the most assists (8).
Offensive Firepower
Forsberg has found his groove again, with goals in three straight and seven points (3g-4a) over his last three games. O’Reilly is riding a five-game point streak (5g-5a) and has 29 points in his last 24 contests. Evangelista continues to deliver with 25 points (5g-20a) in his last 27 games, while Stamkos has 28 points (17g-11a) over that same stretch.
Milestones on the Horizon
Josi isn’t just hitting 1,000 games - he’s also just two goals shy of 200 in his career. Fedor Svechkov, meanwhile, is one game away from his 100th in the NHL.
Scouting the Senators
Ottawa rolls into town fresh off a 4-1 win in Columbus and looking to close out their three-game road trip on a high note. Tim Stutzle leads the Sens with 22 goals and 51 points, followed closely by Drake Batherson (19g-44pts). Captain Brady Tkachuk, who’s missed time this season due to injury, has still managed 11 goals and 28 points in just 29 games.
In net, James Reimer has made two appearances since signing with Ottawa, going 1-0-1.
Series History
The Preds have historically fared well against the Senators, holding a 20-13-(0)-5 all-time record. At Bridgestone Arena, they’re 11-6-(0)-1 and have won six of the last ten matchups overall. Nashville already beat Ottawa earlier this season on the road, and they’ll look to sweep the season series tonight.
Tune In
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network South with the *Predators LIVE!
- pregame show. Willy Daunic, Chris Mason and Kara Hammer will have the call on TV, while Pete Weber and Jay More will handle radio duties on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network.
Spanish-language coverage will also air on El Jefe (96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM).
With Roman Josi reaching a monumental milestone and the Preds hungry to get back in the win column, there’s no shortage of storylines heading into tonight’s matchup. Expect a fired-up crowd and a Nashville team ready to rally around its captain.