Nashville Predators: Post-All Star Break Goals and Expectations
By Chad Minton
Top-Three Spot in Division is Realistic Goal
If we’re setting realistic goals for after the All Star break, let’s be honest about the race for the top spot in the Central Division. It would take a mini miracle for the Nashville Predators to catch the blazing hot Colorado Avalanche.
The Avalanche have lost just once to a team not the Predators since December 4. Their one loss since then? A shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Go figure.
Although the Predators did pass the test of going toe-to-toe with the Avalanche when they beat them in a highly entertaining overtime game nearly a month ago, the race for the division looks far-fetched for the Predators.
The Predators are eight points behind the Avalanche with two more games being played. So let’s turn our main focus to securing a top-three spot, which I believe is exteremely important for the Predators to get out of the first round for the first time since 2018.
Finishing in the wild card will not only ensure another road playoff series, but also a high likelihood of going up against Colorado or a team like Vegas if they can get things together and win the Pacific Division.
It’s going to be a tough battle to finish in the top-three with the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and even the Dallas Stars all with good enough squads to also compete for those two spots.
With that said, the Predators won the division in 2019 and it did them no favors as they lost to the Stars in the first round. Even so, a top-three spot is important and attainable.