Maple Leafs vs Predators: Predicting the Starting Lineups for the December 20th, 2025 Game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to face off against the Nashville Predators tonight at Bridgestone Arena. Here's a look at the projected lineups and what to expect from both teams.

Toronto Maple Leafs (15-13-5)

The Maple Leafs are looking to rebound after a disappointing 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. Coach Craig Berube has been critical of his team's performance and is making some changes to the lineup.

  • Forwards: It appears Calle Järnkrok will draw into the lineup, replacing Steven Lorentz on the fourth line. Matias Maccelli is expected to replace Max Domi. The top line of Knies-Matthews-Nylander needs to improve, as Matthews and Nylander did not record a shot at 5-on-5 in their previous game.

    • Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — William Nylander
    • Nicolas Robertson — John Tavares — Easton Cowan
    • Dakota Joshua — Nicolas Roy — Bobby McMann
    • Matias Maccelli — Scott Laughton — Calle Jarnkrok
    • Defense: Philippe Myers is expected to draw in for Henry Thrun.

    • Morgan Rielly — Philippe Myers

    • Jake McCabe — Troy Stecher
    • Simon Benoit — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
    • Goaltenders: Joseph Woll is confirmed to start in goal, with Dennis Hildeby as his backup. Woll has a 5-3-1 record with a .927 save percentage this season.

Injuries: Chris Tanev (upper body), Anthony Stolarz (upper body), Brandon Carlo (lower body), and Dakota Mermis (lower body) are currently injured. Marshall Rifai is on injured reserve and has been sent to the Toronto Marlies for a conditioning assignment as he recovers from wrist surgery.

Nashville Predators (13-16-4)

The Predators are also looking to bounce back after a 4-1 defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes. They have been alternating wins and losses in their last four games.

  • Forwards: Jonathan Marchessault is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and missed Friday's practice. Cole Smith recently returned to the lineup after missing 19 games.

    • Filip Forsberg — Ryan O'Reilly — Luke Evangelista
    • Michael Bunting — Erik Haula — Steven Stamkos
    • Tyson Jost — Fedor Svechkov — Matthew Wood
    • Reid Schaefer — Michael McCarron — Cole Smith
    • Defense:

    • Roman Josi — Nick Perbix

    • Brady Skjei — Adam Wilsby
    • Nicolas Hague — Nick Blankenburg
    • Goaltenders: Juuse Saros is expected to start, backed up by Justus Annunen. Saros has a 12-11-3 record with a 2.95 GAA and a .898 SV%.

Injuries: Ozzy Wiesblatt (upper body), Justin Barron (lower body), and Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) are currently sidelined.

Keys to the Game:

  • Maple Leafs: Toronto needs a strong performance from their top players, particularly Matthews and Nylander. Joseph Woll will need to be sharp in net, and the defense needs to limit second-chance opportunities.
  • Predators: Nashville needs to improve their offensive production, as they are currently averaging 2.8 goals per game. Juuse Saros needs to be solid in goal, and the team needs to stay out of the penalty box.

The Maple Leafs have won five of the last seven games against Nashville. Toronto is slightly favored to win.


Written By
Kavya Iyer is a storyteller at heart, driven by a curiosity to uncover the human experiences that shape the world of sports. Her writing connects audiences to the determination and resilience of athletes at all levels. Kavya’s balanced reporting style blends insight, empathy, and impact. She believes great sports journalism inspires as much as it informs.
Advertisement

Latest Post


Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
About   •   Terms   •   Privacy
© 2025 SportsBuzz360