Nashville Predators: Breaking Down Each Potential 1st-Round Opponent
By Chad Minton
The playoffs are inching closer for the Nashville Predators, and here are their potential first-round opponents. They will be challenged from the start.
We’re not accustomed to seeing the Nashville Predators lose anymore. They’ve spoiled the fans with win after win, usually in comeback fashion. As comfortable as we are with the greatness of the Predators, the playoffs are a different beast.
The Predators are currently in a battle with a few other teams for the top overall seed in the NHL to claim home-ice advantage all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Judging by the way the Predators play at home, this is an important goal.
Go back to last year when the Predators dropped the first two games in Pittsburgh, but battled back to tie it at two games apiece. Does the Stanley Cup go to the Predators if they open up the first two games at Bridgestone Arena and go up two games to none? You can make an argument for that.
However, getting out of the first round will be a tall order. The Western Conference is stacked, and those two wildcard teams will offer some serious resistance. Here’s who the Predators could be up against in the first round.
All playoff opponent probabilities courtesy of the Predators official website