It hasn’t been the greatest year for the Nashville Predators, but they aren’t far from creeping into a wild card spot in the Western Conference. Therefore, they still have a good chance to be part of the NHL Playoffs in 2024. And if the Preds find a way in, this team could end up doing some damage.
Their best way to get there would be via a wild card berth since they are quite a few points away from third place in the Central Division, but with plenty of hockey to go, anything can happen.
When do the 2024 NHL Playoffs Start?
After the Predators regular season ends on April 15th, fans only need to wait five days before the postseason begins on April 20th.
What must the Predators do if they want to make the postseason?
Being so close to landing a spot in the wild card, the Predators just need to be consistent. That hasn’t always been the case this season, and as a result, Nashville remains on the outside looking in. But if they can earn points even 60 percent of the time throughout the most crucial part of the playoff race, the Predators will put themselves in a good position.
A recent history of the Predators in the playoffs
The Predators have been legitimate playoff contenders since the 2014-15 season, and that trend has continued in 2024. The 2017 playoffs were by far their best outing when they earned a trip to their first Stanley Cup Final, losing in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
While Nashville hasn’t returned to the Final since, nor have they gotten past the First Round since 2018, it doesn’t mean they haven’t been relevant. Although their eight-season streak of postseason appearances ended last year, Nashville can realistically make the 82-game campaign that was in 2022-23 an outlier with a strong run between mid-February and mid-April.
(Historical data provided by Hockey-Reference)