Here are the three biggest games left for the Nashville Predators ahead of the playoffs
After missing out on the fun last season, the Nashville Predators are well on their way to returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
With four weeks left in the regular season, the Predators (39-25-4) hold the first wild-card position with 82 points. They have a comfortable lead over Minnesota, St. Louis, Calgary and Seattle, all of which are hunting down Nashville and Vegas for the two wild-card spots.
Nashville has built a lead in the standings thanks to a 14-game points streak, the second-longest such streak in franchise history. According to Money Puck, as of Monday, the Predators have a 96.5% chance of making the playoffs.
But there are still 14 games left; nothing is guaranteed in the NHL.
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Although the Predators' final stretch is not terribly difficult — nine of their remaining opponents currently sit outside of the playoff picture — three games on the horizon have a significant impact on their playoff chances.
March 26 vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Nashville and Vegas lead the pack among wild-card playoff teams, with the Predators holding a three-point lead over the Golden Knights.
On March 26, the Golden Knights come to Bridgestone Arena for what could be a battle for the top wild-card spot. The Predators have been red-hot, but Vegas is loaded, acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin and forward Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline.
The season series is also up for grabs. Each team holds one win and one loss, with a potential head-to-head tiebreaker in the balance.
March 30 at Colorado Avalanche
Surprisingly, the Predators are not yet eliminated from a top-three spot in the Central Division. They have an 8.2% chance of jumping to third in the division.
If the Predators are going to make that happen, this game against the Avalanche on March 30 will be crucial.
The challenge will be performing well on the road in Colorado, something the Predators have struggled with in recent years. They have lost four of their past five regular-season games at Ball Arena.
April 4 vs. St. Louis Blues
By far the most important remaining game is on April 4.
The Blues are seven points behind the Predators in the standings, but they have been playing well. They are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games, mostly on the back of goalie Jordan Binnington, who has won four of his past six games.
In the season series, Nashville holds the edge, winning the first two games handily — 8-3 on Nov. 24 and 5-2 on Feb. 17.
With a win, the Predators could effectively knock the Blues out of the playoff picture while also sealing one of the two wild-card positions.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Three biggest games left for Nashville Predators ahead of playoffs
