What to know about the Predators’ return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Postseason hockey returns to Smashville this spring.

The Nashville Predators secured a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by earning one point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Despite the loss, there was plenty to celebrate for the Preds.

Nashville found itself trailing to Winnipeg 3-1 at the conclusion of the first period Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators clawed back in the third period with goals from Spencer Stastney and Ryan O’Reilly about two minutes apart from each other.

The spark to the comeback may have come from the man the players call “Big Sexy.”

Nearly 90 seconds into the third period, Predators forward Michael McCarron got tangled up with Jets defenseman Logan Stanley in the aftermath of a physical offensive rush from Nashville.

The two dropped their gloves and locked up, until McCarron landed a vicious right hook to Stanley’s head, sending him to the ice. McCarron, the 6-foot-6-inch, 232-pound right winger, pumped his arms in celebration and acknowledgement of the crowd as he skated for the penalty box.

The Predators proceeded to tie the game 3-3 with back-to-back goals to force overtime. In the extra period, Kyle Connor scored the game-winning goal for the Jets, but the Predators clinched a playoff spot via the one point earned from the overtime result.

The Nashville Predators’ playoff hiatus didn’t last long. After missing the postseason in the 2022-23 season for the first time in eight years, head coach Andrew Brunette and general manager Barry Trotz orchestrated a quick turnaround in their new respective positions.

With a record of 45-29-5, the Preds hold the first Western Conference wild card spot with 95 points as of Wednesday.

The Predators last made the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. That year, they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Colorado Avalanche, in four games.

With Tuesday night’s result, Nashville guaranteed its spot, and is thus set to make an appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth time in ten seasons. However, the Predators have not won a playoff series since the 2017-18 season.

Andrew Brunette and company will try to end that trend this postseason, but their opening opponent is still undetermined.

The Predators have three regular season games left: at Chicago, home versus Columbus, and at Pittsburgh. The Penguins are the only team of the three with a record above .500.

Nashville can no longer secure a top-three divisional playoff position, so the Predators will land in the first or second wild card spot. Depending on where they finish, the Preds will face one of the top-two teams in the Western Conference, which as of Wednesday are the Dallas Stars (109 points) and the Vancouver Canucks (104 points).

The Predators and Stars clashed in the 2019 playoffs, and Dallas won the series in six games. Nashville and Vancouver last faced off in the playoffs in 2011, a series that was also decided in six games, in favor of the Canucks.

The Los Angeles Kings, Las Vegas Golden Knights and the St. Louis Blues are all in the mix for two remaining Western Conference playoff berths.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will start after the regular season ends on April 18.

The Predators will look to make Smashville proud and continue their playoff tradition, which is one of the best in the league.

Nashville is set to make the 16th postseason berth in its last 20 seasons, which is tied with the Boston Bruins for the most in the NHL over that span.

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