Most have thought that it was a matter of when, and not if, the Nashville Predators would eventually crater their hopes for a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. However, this team clearly doesn't have the quitter gene in them.
Following their 3-1 win at home on Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken, the Predators pulled into a tie at 71 points with the Kraken. Despite having two head-to-head wins against the Kraken, the Predators lose the tiebreaker due to regulation wins.
Ryan Ufko scored the game's opening goal to continue his impressive call-up stint after the trade deadline. This wraps up the season series against the Kraken, winning two of three matchups.
Playoff destiny in hands of Nashville Predators with a few other teams battling in final weeks
The wild component of this wildcard race, pun absolutely intended, is the three remaining matchups against the San Jose Sharks, the team I think is the biggest obstacle to the Prrdators winning this race that is essentially between five teams for the final spot; the Kings, Sharks, Kraken, Preds and Jets.
The Predators have firm control of their playoff destiny if they find a way to sweep all three matchups with the Sharks, and at very least win two of them in regulation. Now quite honestly, I find that probability to be below a 50 percent chance. The Sharks just feel like the next team up to crash the party and finally complete their long rebuild.
The Sharks have lost three regulation games in a row, which has increased Nashville's playoff hopes. The Sharks still stand out as the team thag has the best chance to edge out the Predators, and it very well could come down to the second to last game on the schedule. An April 13 showdown at Bridgestone Arena.
What hurts the Sharks is they don't have the trusted scoring depth behind 95-point scorer Macklin Celebrini. A staggering 50-point drop-off to the next point scorer, Will Smith. So perhaps their lack of depth and unsteady goaltending is catching up to them.
Can the Predators more veteran heavy lineup exlploit the Sharks?
The Kings are probably most people's first choice to take the final wildcard spot. They got the talent on paper, but the Predators have five more regulation wins than the Kings, and Seattle has seven more. So a tiebreaker scenario least favors the Kings. The Sharks also have a game in hand.
The more I look at this, the more clear it is that it's the Predators wildcard to seize. On top of three matchups with the Sharks, they have two remaining with the Kings. Need to split those at a minimum, but definitely cannot lose both.
Ultimately I see the Sharks narrowly edging out both Nashville and LA for the last wildcard in the West, with Seattle gradually fading. It's their time to end the playoff drought on the back of their superstar Celebrini. Nashville takes it to the final two games before being eliminated. Heartbreak central.