The Nashville Predators sit in the first wildcard spot in the West, but have a much better chance of dropping to the second wildcard spot than entering the top-three in their division. With that being said at this point in the season, there are four potential matchups in the first round of the playoffs for the Predators, and we're going to delve into which of the four should garner the best results for Nashville.
If the standings stay the way they are right now, the Predators' first-round matchup would be the Winnipeg Jets. This is a team the Predators have had the upper hand against this season, going 2-1-0 and recently knocking off the Jets by a score of 4-2. This season holds more value, but the Predators went 1-1-2 last season against the Jets. This potential series would be a low-scoring affair, despite both teams being able to score, due to the elite netminding.
Now the Jets are currently tied in points with the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars with 91 on the season, so anything can happen over the final weeks. The Avalanche currently sit in second due to games played and the Predators have had their way with them this season. Nashville is 2-0-0, winning both games in regulation by a combined score of 9-4. Last season was a completely different story as the Avalanche went 4-0-0 and allowed the Predators just one point in those games.
The Stars are one of only two teams to this point that the Predators have faced four times. The first two games were split and each team won by one goal, but then the season series really opened up. The Predators got the advantage with a 6-3 win, only to be embarrassed in a 9-2 loss at home. Fortunately, that loss flipped a switch for the Predators and the team has put together a 14-game point streak since (12-0-2). Once again as we put less value on last season compared to this season, the Stars did go 4-0-0 against the Predators in 2022-23, winning every game in regulation.
The final option that may be just as likely as meeting one of their divisional opponents in the first round is seeing the Vancouver Canucks. There are multiple ways this can happen. The Canucks are likely going to win their division, so they will match up against one of the wildcard teams. In terms of points, Vancouver is first in the conference. But in terms of points percentage, the Jets have them beat. If the Canucks finish lower in points than any of the three teams trailing them by one in the other division, the Canucks will meet the first wildcard team in the first round, likely being Nashville. The Predators have gone 0-3-0 against the Canucks this season after finishing 2-0-1 last season. This is not a matchup the Predators want in the playoff this year.
After looking at the record vs the teams, we have yet to dive into the players each contender added. The Predators didn't go all out as they were a fringe playoff team, but they did enough to help around the edges. The other four potential first-round matchups did a lot more to upgrade and it makes all of them an even tougher out.
The Jets added two top-six forwards in Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli while also bringing in some more defensive depth in Colin Miller. Toffoli has been red hot since coming over to the Jets and will be just another threat offensively the Predators will have to watch.
The Avalanche were no slouch when it came to upgrading at the deadline, bringing in Sean Walker, Casey Mittelstadt, Yakov Trenin, and Brandon Duhaime. Their upgrades greatly benefited any area of weakness this season and they got a lot tougher. With Trenin being dealt to Colorado this season, this would be an interesting playoff matchup to see how he does. But in no way will it be an easy one despite winning both games against the Avalanche so far this season.
The Stars have a familiar face in Matt Duchene on the team and he's having a great season. They picked him up in the offseason, but as the Stars are so deep and strong throughout the lineup, the only trade Dallas thought they needed was adding Chris Tanev. Just because there weren't a lot of upgrades, doesn't mean the Stars, who have battled the Predators this season, aren't a major threat.
The Canucks' big deadline upgrade was Elias Lindholm, but he hasn't done well since being moved. This shouldn't necessarily hold the Canucks back from giving the Predators all they can handle. Nashville is winless against them this season regardless of what the team has looked like.
I am putting a lot more value on how the Predators have played each opponent this season than previous seasons, but also taking into account just how strong those teams are as well.
The Canucks, while struggling the most as of late, have controlled the Predators, and that wouldn't be ideal to have happen again. This is also a team with less playoff experience though. The Predators have the upper hand on the Avalanche, but they upgraded a ton and are rolling with six wins in a row. They also have the MVP favourite in Nathan MacKinnon this season. I want to count those two teams out as the ideal opponents, but I do think the Predators will meet one of them the way each are playing.
That leaves the most ideal matchup in the Stars or the Jets. As the stats show this season, the Predators have the upper hand in net. Jake Oettinger has not been himself, but that could always change in the postseason. I also think that the Stars and Predators would make for the most entertaining and close first-round matchup here. The Jets are also a deep team and the Predators have the better record against them this season. However you look at it, Nashville is not going to have an easy opponent or any easy time pushing deep into the postseason.
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