Dallas Stars (84 points, 10th in West)
Probability of facing Predators: 8.4 percent
For a while it looked like the Stars would be the most likely first-round opponent for the Predators. However, they’re in a tailspin right now. They’re riding a six-game losing streak and have a difficult schedule remaining. They’re going to have to beat some playoff-bound teams to sneak into a wildcard spot.
If the Stars end up missing the playoffs, it will be a major disappointment. They have the talent on offense to be a scary first-round opponent, but it looks like they’ll come up short. If they were to make it in, expect a high-scoring series between them and the Predators. The depth of the Predators would override everything and it would be a quick five-game series. However, the Stars are just a few pieces away from being scary.