The Nashville Predators find themselves in a critical situation as their odds of making the postseason continue to dwindle. The desperation level has been heightened since Nashville embarked on its road trip, where it ultimately went 2-2-1.

According to Money Puck, with the 4-3 shootout win over the Jets this week, Nashville’s odds to make the postseason jumped up from 12 percent to 17.2 percent.

“We knew it was a big game. That’s a team right behind us and chasing us,” captain Roman Josi said after the win. “I loved our effort. I thought we played hard; we played as a team and got rewarded for it.”

Nashville now has 15 games left in the season and fewer contests to plant their flag on a Wild Card spot. Should they make it to the postseason, it will be the 17th time the Predators go chasing after the Stanley Cup.

“It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster ride in a lot of different ways, and we stayed together,” head coach Andrew Brunette said on Tuesday night.

“Credit to the veterans, they’ve hung in there, they’ve pushed the young kids and pushed each other, and they’re hungry. I think they want to make a statement and earn this fight.”

How did the Predators get here?

This season, the Predators lead the NHL with 74 goals against in the first period. That’s been their Achilles heel, as has allowing the first goal of the game.

As of March 18, Nashville has seen the opposition find the back of the net first 44 times during the 2025-26 campaign, which is the second most in the NHL to the Philadelphia Flyers (45).

Brunette has often mentioned how tired he is of talking about that happening to his team. Typically, he states, “I wish I had an answer for you” when addressing media members on the matter.

On the contrary, Nashville has also scored the first goal of the game 23 times, which is roughly 34 percent of their games this season.

Failing to jump ahead has kept the Predators chasing games more often than not. Since January 1, Nashville has scored the opening goal 10 times, which is the second-fewest instances in the NHL.

Aside from struggling to get on the board first, one of the brighter spots for the Predators over the last few weeks has been seeing younger players come in and make their mark.

After the Olympic break, the Predators recalled Matthew Wood, Zach L’Heureux, Fedor Svechkov, Ryan Ufko, and Reid Schaefer. All of whom are part of the next wave of talent that is being ushered in.

Over the last 10 games, Wood has especially been a difference maker for the Predators. He scored his 15th goal of the season in Winnipeg on Tuesday night and leads Nashville with eight points over that stretch.

“Since the break, it feels like he took it to another level and scored some huge goals for us. Love his poise with the puck, and he’s making some great plays out there,” Josi said.

During the road trip, Ufko scored a highlight reel goal, his first in the NHL, which proved to be a game-winner against the Seattle Kraken last Tuesday.

Now the Predators are set to return home and play five of their next six games in Bridgestone Arena.

Nashville will take on Seattle Thursday at 7 p.m., who the Predators are two points behind, and then host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday to end the week.