Week 7 of the Nashville Predators schedule saw the team blown out by the Los Angeles Kings, blow out the Edmonton Oilers, and lose in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild. They picked up half of the possible points, but they’re now officially in the second half of the season and sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference. Only two teams in the entire league have been worse over the last 10 games than Nashville, and both of them (Florida and Tampa Bay) are in the Eastern Conference.

Along with Week 7, this week (aside from the game with Vancouver) is the softest spot in the Nashville Predators schedule. But there are no breaks for the Preds (10-9-6), who will play four games on the road over the next six days. For a little added pressure the Columbus Blue Jackets, winners of five games in a row, are now just two points behind Nashville in the Central Division. Even if the Predators can walk away from this week with wins it’s going to be an uphill climb the rest of the way in a tight Western Conference playoff race. Without them, this season is going to begin slipping away.

2013 NASHVILLE PREDATORS SCHEDULE

WEEK 8

Shea Weber had his way with the Stars in the corners two weeks ago. (PHOTO: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday, March 12th
at Dallas Stars (12-10-2)
7:30 p.m. CDT
FOX Sports Tennessee

These two teams, soon to be division rivals thanks to NHL realignment, faced off two weeks ago for the first time this season. The Predators won that game at Bridgestone Arena 5-4 in overtime thanks to four points from Roman Josi. This time the Stars will defend their home ice with Kari Lehtonen, who was missing in the first game, back in net again.

This time around Nashville travels to the Canucks. (PHOTO: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports)

Thursday, March 14th
at Vancouver Canucks (11-7-6)
9:00 p.m. CDT
FOX Sports Tennessee
Game available in Atlanta market

The last time Nashville played the Canucks they held them to a single goal, but that was enough for a Vancouver win thanks to Roberto Luongo’s shutout performance. The Canucks are in second place in the Northwest Division, trailing Minnesota even though both teams have 28 points thanks to the Regulation plus Overtime Wins tiebreaker. They’re the only team besides the Predators to lose five games this season via shootout.

Jarome Iginla and the Flames have trouble stopping their opponents’ attack. (PHOTO: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Friday, March 15th
at Calgary Flames (9-10-4)
8:00 p.m. CDT
FOX Sports Tennessee

Like the Nashville Predators, the Calgary Flames are bad this season. They just get there by a different route. The Flames score plenty (2.74 goals/game, 16th in NHL) but they can’t stop their opponents from doing the same (3.30 goals against/game, 28th in NHL). The Preds will play on no rest in Calgary, a situation in which they have gone 2-2-1 so far this season.

The Oilers and Preds will meet for the second time this month. (PHOTO: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports)

Sunday, March 17th
at Edmonton Oilers (9-11-5)
7:00 p.m. CDT
FOX Sports Tennessee

The Predators’ best performance of the entire season came last week against Edmonton, a 6-0 shutout that saw them do everything right with three new faces in the lineup. Nashville moved on with a 2-1 shootout loss to Minnesota. Edmonton responded with a 6-5 win over Chicago, marking just the second time the Blackhawks have lost in regulation this season.