The Nashville Predators have eight more regular season games left as the calendar turns to April, and they are in the thick of the playoff push. A recent five-game winning streak was enough for them to move into a Wild Card spot, but with the latest three-game losing streak, they are now holding onto that spot by a thread.
The Predators are one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings -- the team directly below them in the Wild Card standings, and the one that happens to be their opponent tonight. In fact, four of their final eight games are against the Kings and San Jose Sharks -- two of the teams vying for that final playoff spot.
To say these next few games will be impactful would be a major understatement, as they are shaping up to be absolute bloodbaths. The good news for the Predators is that they will have very fresh legs heading into tonight, while the Kings cannot say the same in the slightest.
Nashville Predators have rested for days, while Los Angeles Kings played last night
Traveling to the other side of the country is never easy in itself, but the Predators have about as beneficial a set of circumstances as you could imagine in this scenario. They have not played a game since Sunday, while the Kings will be on the back half of a back-to-back set of games.
Now, a long rest in between games does not always work in teams' favor, especially when they have momentum and are taken out of their rhythm. In the case of the Predators, however, they have lost three straight, so it is an opportunity to put a rough weekend behind them and regroup for the most important stretch of the regular season.
In the case of the Kings, their game last night was in Los Angeles, so not dealing with travel definitely makes it less taxing than if they were traveling. That being said, the game of hockey is super physical and demanding, and having to play two nights in a row takes a toll on the body no matter what.
Losing this game would not simply seal their fate, but if the Predators cannot win in this situation, it would be a bad sign for their chances of securing a playoff spot. The rest advantage speaks for itself, and with the resilience and ability they have shown to bounce back this year, this one feels like it is there for the taking.
On the flip side, a Predators win would give the team and their fans good reason to feel confident about them emerging from this playoff push. All it takes is one win to gain some momentum back, and if they can do that and carry it into these next three games, which are all against the Kings and Sharks, it would position them very nicely.
If there is one thing we have learned about the Predators this year, it is to expect a wild ride and not be surprised when the results of one night or week do not translate to the next. But tonight presents such a huge advantage for them and appears as winnable as any remaining game down the stretch.