Predators control their own destiny with Jets coming to town
Regardless of the outcome, Saturday’s game against the Jets will shift momentum
In isolation, the Predators 2-1 loss to Chicago on Thursday night was disappointing. When viewed through the wider lens of the playoff race, it was a missed opportunity. The Predators entered the game on a hot streak and failed to capitalize on a very weak Chicago team. The night started and ended with the Predators 4 points behind the Winnipeg Jets and the final Wild Card spot they've been striving for.
Of course, it helped that the Jets were squaring off against the runaway freight train that is the Boston Bruins and managed to suffer a merciless defeat at their hands. Had it not been for that loss, the Predators would be 6 points behind. And, making up 6 points at this stage of the season is quite a tall order.
However, the Predators have their best opportunity to shift the playoff momentum back towards Nashville tomorrow afternoon. In what almost seems cosmically scripted, the Predators will square off against the Jets. A win on Saturday cuts the Jets' lead in half and puts the Predator within 2 points. However, a loss sets them back to 6 points behind.
It's definitely a "make or break" moment for the Predators, especially when considering what the rest of the schedule looks like for both teams.
This chart (the second one) shows you how tough each team's schedule is for the remainder of the season. The Jets? They have the 9th easiest schedule remaining. Unless you click on it, you can't even see the Predators, that's because they have the second toughest schedule left in the NHL.
Winning on Saturday is probably the last best chance the Predators have to make up that ground before the two teams meet again. The Preds and Jets will meet once more after Saturday when they meet up in Winnipeg on April 8th. Just for comparison, look at who each team will face in the meantime:
The Jets will see: St. Louis, Arizona, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Detroit, New Jersey, and Calgary.
The Preds will see: New York Rangers, Buffalo, Seattle (x2), Toronto, Boston, Pittsburgh, St, Louis, Dallas, Vegas, and Carolina.
Also noteworthy is that aside from facing the stiffest competition from Boston and Dallas, they'll see Seattle, also fighting to stay in the playoffs, twice. Even more, they'll play 11 games to Winnipeg's 8 during the same window.
Of course, anything can happen on any given night, but it's not just about the Predators winning games, it's also about Winnipeg losing. The only times the Predators can control both of those factors are tomorrow and April 8th. If they can take advantage of both, the teams are even. With games in hand, the Predators can still make a solid run at the playoffs, but they'll have to be ready for battle.
–featured image via James Carey Lauder/USA Today Sports–
