Nashville Predators players Roman Josi (59), Jonathan Marchessault (81) and Ryan O’Reilly (90) celebrate a goal against the Seattle Kraken on March 19, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

In a sense, the Nashville Predators have been a consistent hockey team this season.

It’s just not the ideal kind of consistency.

With less than one month remaining in the NHL regular season, the Predators (31-28-9) are still hovering around .500 and battling for a playoff spot. Nashville earned a critical 3-1 win over the visiting Seattle Kraken on Thursday night despite missing goaltender Juuse Saros, who was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury.

There’s a resilience to these Predators. Deadline trades, key injuries and tough losses aside, Nashville has played well enough to make its final 14 games worth watching.

“We’ve gone through all kinds of different things,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said Tuesday following a 4-3 shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets. “It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster ride in a lot of different ways, and we stayed together. Credit the veterans. They’ve hung in there, pushed the young kids and pushed each other. And they’re hungry. I think they want to make a statement that we’re in this fight.”

Playoff race heating up

The Predators (71 points) were narrowly behind the Los Angeles Kings (72) for the Western Conference’s final wild card spot as of Friday morning.

Seattle (71) and the San Jose Sharks (70) are also part of the logjam of teams hoping to slip into the postseason. The Utah Mammoth (78) control the top wild card seed.

For the Predators, just being in the mix is an accomplishment after how poorly they began the year. Nashville had the fewest points in the NHL from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.

“We believe we can get in the playoffs,” center Ryan O’Reilly said. “Everyone is working and doing what they can to do that. It’s a fun time to play hockey. Proud of (the team), but we’ve still got a lot of work left.”

Nashville plays four of its next five games at Bridgestone Arena, starting Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Predators still face Utah once, Los Angeles twice and San Jose three times before the regular season ends on April 16. Results from those meetings will play a large role in determining which teams advance.

Nashville Predators rookie defenseman Ryan Ufko collides with Seattle Kraken forward Berkly Catton (27) on March 19, 2026 at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Rookies making most of auditions

The exits of center Michael McCarron, defenseman Nick Blankenburg and wingers Michael Bunting and Cole Smith at the trade deadline opened the door for a youth movement.

Rookies Ryan Ufko and Matthew Wood are taking full advantage.

Ufko, a defenseman now playing Blankenburg’s role, registered five points over his first seven games. Wood, who recently moved up to second-line center, has five goals this month and 15 for the season.

First-year forwards Reid Schaefer and Ozzy Wiesblatt are playing regular bottom-six minutes with 21-year-old Joakim Kemell rotating into the lineup as needed.

“They’ve brought so much energy and are playing great,” captain Roman Josi said. “I feel like they’re playing better and better. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. We knew what we were getting, and they’ve delivered that.”

Meanwhile, second-year center Fedor Svechkov has four points since being recalled in early March, and fellow 22-year-old forward Zachary L’Heureux signed a two-year, $1.75 million contract extension with the Predators this week.

Nashville’s established players seem to be taking kindly to their new teammates. When Wood was dangerously boarded by Seattle’s Ryker Evans on Thursday, Jonathan Marchessault immediately jumped in to fight Evans.

“The young guys really want to make a name for themselves and earn their spot,” Wood said March 17. “Everyone loves the game and wants to keep playing. It’s a great atmosphere.”

Brunette’s last stand

Predators outgoing general manager Barry Trotz hired Brunette in 2023 and has defended his coach at almost every turn.

By not trading the likes of O’Reilly, Erik Haula and Steven Stamkos at the deadline, Trotz did perhaps one final favor for Brunette, even if it wasn’t his only priority.

“I have to do my job for now, the present, to give this team a chance, but I also have to take care of the future,” Trotz said March 6. “That was the balancing act. How do I serve both masters? When you’re close enough, but not there, you’ve got to serve two masters sometimes.”

Brunette is 108-102-22 with one playoff appearance in his three seasons as head coach. Conventional wisdom says a new GM could spell a coaching change sooner rather than later, though it’s certainly no guarantee.

The Predators staying in the playoff race speaks well of Brunette’s effort to salvage what appeared to be a lost season. Making the playoffs could shift the conversation entirely.

“We’re excited to be in this position where these games matter so much,” he said Thursday after watching backup goalie Justus Annunen make 25 saves against Seattle. “We’ve put so much work into this and have gone through so much as a group. A lot of ups and downs. To have an opportunity here at home, I don’t think anything was going to deter us.”

Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette (right) speaks with defenseman Nick Blankenburg during a game earlier this season at Bridgestone Arena. JOHN RUSSELL/NASHVILLE PREDATORS

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