The Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets hit the ice in the season opener at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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As the action begins for the beginning of the NHL season, here is who we pick to emerge victorious in Thursday's action.

Our computer projection model for this contest predicts a final tally of Blue Jackets 4, Predators 3.

The Predators (30-44-8 overall) had a 6-8-14 record last season in contests that needed overtime.
In the 26 games Nashville played that were decided by one goal, it had a 9-9-8 record (good for 26 points).
In the 13 games last season the Predators scored just one goal, they lost every time.
Nashville finished 4-12-6 in the 22 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (registering 14 points).
The Predators scored more than two goals in 37 games (26-10-1, 53 points).
In the 29 games when Nashville recorded a single power-play goal, it registered 27 points by finishing 12-14-3.
When it outshot its opponent, Nashville was 18-18-5 (41 points).
The Predators were outshot by their opponent 39 times, and went 12-24-3 (27 points).

The Blue Jackets (40-33-9 overall) posted a record of 10-9-19 in contests that required OT last season.
In the 22 games Columbus played that were decided by one goal, it picked up 22 points.
Last season the Blue Jackets registered just one goal in seven games, and they picked up two points (0-5-2).
When Columbus scored a pair of goals last season, they amassed nine points (4-10-1 record).
The Blue Jackets scored at least three goals 51 times, accumulating 76 points (36-11-4).
Columbus scored a lone power-play goal in 28 games last season and picked up 38 points.
When outshooting its opponent last season, Columbus was 18-12-4 (40 points).
The Blue Jackets' opponents had more shots in 41 games last season. The Blue Jackets went 19-17-5 in those games (43 points).

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