Nothing ever comes easy in the NHL, even when you're hanging out near the bottom of the NHL standings with nothing else left to play for but your dignity.
The Predators are on a five-game losing streak as one of the worst seasons in franchise history gets into the final five games. They'll close things with three of those opponents still in the playoff mix mathematically.
On top of playing spoiler, the Predators are trying to avoid having the lowest season point total in an 82-game season in franchise history. They had 63 points in 1998-99, and currently sit at 62 points. Surely they'll find a way to at least get two more points and avoid all-time worst finish.
In terms of points percentage, the Predators sit at .403. That's points in just 40 percent of their games this season. The 1998-99 team again holds the crown for the lowest at .384, but it's very likely that the 2024-25 squad featuring Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O'Rielly, Roman Josi and Juuse Saros will finish as the second-worst team in Predators history.
That is unless this team embraces the spoiler role and notches three or four wins in their last five. Doesn't seem likely, but if they do they'll at least move ahead of the 2001-2002 squad and say they're only the "third-worst team in franchise history".
Sunday's loss vs. Montreal a common theme of Nashville Predators disastrous season
The Predators had a great chance to play spoiler role against the Canadiens, and to their credit they piled up the scoring chances and had a staggering 76 percent "Deserve to Win" from MoneyPuck. But "deserving to win" isn't what gets you the two points, and we all sadly know.
The Canadiens are holding onto the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference while riding a five-game winning streak after their 2-1 win over the Predators. They've built themselves a comfortable cushion of six points over the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, two other underperformers along with the Predators.
This was a chance for the Predators to embrace a game of critical importance to the opponent and channel some energy to play spoiler. Not to make excuses for a team that deserves none at this dying moments of the regular season, but hey at least they piled up 37 shots on goal.
The Predators and Canadiens last played on December 5 with the Predators failing to score a goal and losing 3-0. It pushed the losing streak for the Predators to six games when the season was beginning the spiral out of control.
MoneyPuck had this game being extremely important to win in regulation for the Canadiens. Beating the Predators in regulation pushed their playoff odds to 84 percent, while laying an egg to the Predators in regulation drops their odds down to 61.9 percent.
On the flip side, MoneyPuck obviously calls this a completely meaningless game for the Predators even in terms of their lottery odds. The Predators are basically stuck at 11.5 percent chance to win the top overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
However, the players shouldn't have been thinking that way at all, and it appears they weren't. They're playing to build some kind of positive momentum for the offseason, and beating a team that is pushing for a playoff spot and needs this win badly is a good opportunity to do that.
Predators could put final nail in the Islanders on Tuesday
Now the Predators will get the New York Islanders. A team hanging on by a single thread to pull off a miracle to make the playoffs. They're seven points back of Montreal heading into Tuesday's action, and need to jump ahead of two teams in the process.
The Islanders hosted the Capitals on Sunday and witnessed history with Alex Ovechkin moving past Wayne Gretzky for the all-time leader in goals.
HE DID IT, HE DID IT ‼️
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 6, 2025
ALEX OVECHKIN HAS THE MOST GOALS IN NHL HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Ej2cclff9y
I'm cheering for mass chaos and meaningful games as a spoiler for the Predators to play in these last five games. As suffering Predators fan, we deserve any kind of small victory we can get. At least dashing the final nail into the coffin for a desperate Islanders team will be something.
The Predators are looking to split the season series 1-1 with the Islanders. They have struggled incredibly against the Eastern Conference this season.
After a meaningless game against Utah Hockey Club, the Predators will take on another couple of playoff teams with division crowns on the line. On April 12, the Predators will travel to Vegas. As of April 6, Vegas has a three-point lead for first in the Pacific Division over the LA Kings.
Keeping two teams from winning their respective divisions in the West?
How fun would it be to pull off the huge upset over Vegas and knock them out of winning the Pacific Division? Again, this might seem petty as the spoiler, but it's all we have. This season has been a nightmare of epic proportions, so at least let's revel in ruining other people's joy while we're at it. Plus it's Vegas, so I'm not going to feel bad about it one bit if we ruin them getting a division crown and the Kings slip in through the back door to steal it.
Vegan has a five-point lead over the LA Kings, but the Kings have a game in hand and six games total to steal the division from Vegas. That would be hilarious to see the Kings sneak through the back door for the division crown, and Vegas get stuck playing Edmonton in Round 1. The Predators can play a part in that with an upset.
Finally, the season will end for the Predators with a home game against the Dallas Stars. Before the season began, I circle this game foolishly as possibly being one of enormous importance as I figured the Predators would be in the mix of the top three spots in the Central Division. I've never been more wrong about my expectations for a team in the preseason.
Dallas just stomped the Predators 5-1 after the game was close for a while, and then the Predators just fell apart. This game might mean nothing for the Stars, in which case they'll rest a lot of their starters and gift the Predators a win for the road to the offseason.
However, Dallas is only three points behind Winnipeg for the Central Division title. They have five games left, so it's very possible.
As a disgruntled Predators fan, I'd much rather see Winnipeg claim the division title. so if the season finale features the Stars playing to win the Central Division, then that can be our sad Stanley Cup. Somehow beating them at home and sending them to an opening round bloodbath against the Colorado Avalanche.
This all sounds petty, right? But this is where the Nashville Predators have left us. At least there is some meaningful opponents left for the Predators to test their mental fortitude. Hopefully they leave it all out there. There's no worries about messing up a draft pick at this point. Just go out and win some hockey games that are very important for the other side. Rain on their parades.