If Nashville Predators are going to miraclously save their season, this is their last chance

Yes, I know. It's crazy to even be mentioning the Nashville Predators as anything more than a team tanking for the top overall pick and likely the services of top prospect Gavin McKenna.

But hold the phone because the Predators have suddenly won three of their last four games after their Tuesday night resounding 5-1 win over their fellow bottom dweller, the Calgary Flames. Their other two recent wins during this stretch of improvement are against the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.

In these three recent wins, the Predators have seen their offense finally show signs of life with 15 goals, and only one of those being on an empty net. Perhaps the most encouraging sign from all of this is continued contributions from their young core.

Ozzy Wiesblatt and Reid Schaefer scored their first career NHL goals, and both got into it physically with Schaefer logging three hits and Wiesblatt two. They also both dropped the gloves and received fighting majors in what was the most dominate win for the Predators all season, albeit against the lowly Flames.

Additionally, 13 players got onto the scoresheet, with multi-point efforts from Michael Bunting and Nicolas Hague. Steven Stamkos hit a major career milestone with his 1,200th NHL point, making him one of six active players.

Juuse Saros saw his shutout bid spoiled on a power play goal by Calgary at 13:39 of the third period. Either way, still a much-needed confidence boosting game from Saros with 27 saves on 28 shots. His season save percentage is still way down at .893, which is way below his career average of .913.

The Nashville Predators really aren't all that far from the Western Conference wildcard bubble

So despite all of this negative energy and being in last place in the entire NHL, tied with Calgary in points a 22, the Predators find themselves in shouting distance of the wildcard. There are a lot of mediocre teams out there just hanging around. The Western Conference looks top heavy right now with Colorado and Dallas up at the top.

The Predators are one point behind Vancouver to move up another spot in the West, and two points behind St. Louis. Winnipeg sits four points ahead, and then you get to Utah, Edmonton and Chicago all currently sitting out of the wildcard spots with a lot of games left.

You have to wonder what GM Barry Trotz is thinking right now. Is he looking at this last gasp of air and seeing if the Predators can build another long point streak like their 18-game streak they built two seasons ago?

I know most fans want another tank and a huge sell-off, and you're probably going to still get your wish. However, the amount of games left suggests that the Predators have time to prove all of the doubters wrong and rectify their season. The gap between them and the wildcard hunt is within reach, and you don't even need an 18-game point streak. You do need a long stretch of winning three out of every four like they're currently doing.

Playing better hockey and winning some games isn't just about moving up the standings, either. You need some of these trade pieces to start playing better if you want the best bang for your buck in the trade market. Regardless of what happens and how far up the Predators can maybe move towards the wildcard bubble, they still need to make some trades. Too many aging and expiring contracts coming up, and freeing up roster space is needed.

I mentioned Stamkos earlier with his 1,200th NHL point, and he has been getting much more involved lately. The better he plays, the better the chances are that Trotz can find a trade partner. Either way, you're going to have to eat some salary and I'm not convinced Trotz will be willing to do that.

However, Jonathan Marchessault is a player that Nashville should be looking to trade. Marchessault scored just his fifth goal of the season last night. I suspect that he's willing to waive the trade protection to get a fresh start on a Stanley Cup contending team.

In a perfect world for the Predators, they keeping finding ways to stack some wins while their trade pieces keep boosting their value. No matter how close the Predators inch towards the wildcard, making effective trades should be Trotz's top priority.

My original prediction before the season even starts was that the Predators would be a mid-80's team in points. They are behind that pace right now and definitely cannot afford to trade wins and losses. It appears the team is climbing out of their funk and playing with more tenacity.

Next up, the Predators get the Florida Panthers. A team that completely embarrassed them in Nashville just over week ago to a final score of 8-3. The Predators should be out for revenge, and the Panthers are not your normal defending back-to-back champs as they're now shockingly sitting at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 12-12-1 record.