March is here and the last stretch for making the NHL postseason has started. With significant strides made, the Nashville Predators are rising to the top.
Four weeks. That is all that remains in this NHL season. It is now-or-never, do-or-die for teams with aspirations of making it to the postseason. Many of the spots in the Western Conference remain up for grabs. While no team has officially clinched a playoff berth, we can be certain a few teams are already in. With 93 points and a six-point lead in the Central Division, the Nashville Predators have all but locked up one of their eight playoff spots. Sixteen points separate them from the second wild-card position.
We took a week off from the Power Rankings solely because of the trade deadline. With teams making moves it would be nearly impossible to give each club their due. Just looking through the moves made one could argue the Predators lost out to others. But, since the deadline passed, Nashville is the only team to win all their games.
Still, there are four weeks remaining in the regular season. That equates to 16 or 17 games per team. Things can change, and likely will. As it stands right now in the Western Conference, eight points separate eight teams. Nashville, Vegas, and Winnipeg sit at least six points ahead of the rest of the conference. It appears they will make the playoffs, meaning the other eight will fight for five spots.
It will be an interesting month. Let see how the Power Rankings stand right now.