Nashville Predators: Four Remaining Games to Circle on the Calendar
April 14: Edmonton Oilers @ Nashville Predators, 7 PM CT
Let’s start with the third meeting of the regular season between the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators. A game that will likely have huge implications for both teams in terms of seeding.
The Oilers are by no means out of the woods yet in terms of making the playoffs. They’re three points clear of being back in the wildcard, and just four points from being outside the playoffs picture altogether.
Furthermore, the Oilers remaining schedule is no cake walk as they’ll have difficult matchups against Los Angeles, Colorado and Minnesota leading up to this road game against Nashville.
It’s likely that by the time these two teams meet in ten days, both will be in the wildcard and looking to make a statement. Loser gets dealth a massive blow to their playoff hopes.
The Oilers have won both meetings by a combined score of 8-4. However, the most recent meeting took a shootout as neither teams could tally a goal in the third period or overtime. Juuse Saros had to make 44 saves to propel the Predators to a point, while the Predators just managed a pedestrian 30 shots on goal.
The Predators badly need to get a win in this season series on April 14. This is one that can sway the playoff odds back in your favor. It will obviously be a very daunting task as the Oilers are coming into form.
April 17th, St. Louis Blues @ Nashville Predators, 5 PM CT
It doesn’t matter if it’s October or April, when the Predators and the Blues get together it’s a big deal. But it’s obviously amplified for this April 17 showdown at Bridgestone Arena.
By this time we’ll be in the final two weeks of the regular season, and the Predators will either be fading completely out of the playoff picture to get themselves back in, or narrowly holding on like they are now.
The Blues have been hard to figure out over the last month. Since their thrilling 7-4 win over the Predators on March 12, the Blues have been very average. They went through a stretch of losing five of six, but have rebounded by now winning three of their last four including an impressive win over the Flames.
The Predators are now really need to handle the Blues in this matchup to keep pace in the division. The Blues have built themselves a four-point lead over the Predators for third place.
The season series favors the Blues 2-1, with the Predators needing overtime in their lone win all the way back in mid-November. The Blues have had no problem piling up the offense in the three matchups, posting 15 goals.
If you want to be taken serious in this playoff race down the final stretch, you have to step up against teams like the Blues in your division. I have this one circled as always.
April 5th, Minnesota Wild @ Nashville Predators, 7 PM CT
How about we go next to a game that’s happening tonight. A game the Nashville Predators desperately need to stop the bleeding. Their playoff chances remain strong for at least a wildcard spot according to MoneyPuck.com, but a win over the Wild would be a big statement that they’re back in form.
This will be the third meeting of the season, and the Predators have dominated the second-place Wild in both matchups by final scores of 5-2 and 6-2. Filip Forsberg has three goals and two assists in those games, while the Predators went with backups Connor Ingram and David Rittich in net and got strong performances from each of them.
You have to have this one tonight. This team has a dark cloud over it, and they’ve shown they matchup well against the Wild. A better start to the game is needed badly, as contributing writer Max Greenberg outlined.
With a win the Predators can stay firmly in the wildcard race, while also leaving an outside chance to climb back into the top-three conversation by making up ground on second-place Minnesota.
April 29th, Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes
How ridiculously heartbreaking will it be if the Predators have to beat the lowly Arizona Coyotes to claim a wildcard spot on the final day of the regular season? Let me tell you, it’s very possible that’s the scenario on thie date.
These types of games scare the heck out of me because the Coyotes will have nothing to play for and have no pressure. And quite frankly, the Coyotes have been playing much better since the All Star break.
Next. Yaroslav Askarov Reportedly Heading to North America Next Season. dark
I’d love to see the Predators lock up a playoff spot before this game, but I don’t see it happening. It just seems all too perfect. They’ll have to beat the Coyotes in the season finale to claim their eighth-straight playoff berth.
This will also be on a back-to-back, so the Predators will likely be gassed and having to dig deep. For everyone’s sake, I hope this game is meaningless. I have a bad feeling it will be the exact opposite.