{"id":532892,"date":"2026-03-31T14:13:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/532892\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T14:13:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:13:14","slug":"latest-nashville-predators-playoff-picture-wild-card-standings-first-round-matchups-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/532892\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest Nashville Predators playoff picture, wild-card standings, first-round matchups"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nashville Predators<\/a> have lost three straight, but are still in the hunt for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Nashville (34-31-9, 77 points) still hold the second wild card spot in the Western Conference after losing 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> on March 29. The Predators have eight games remaining, but do not control their own destiny<\/a> in the playoff race.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Predators last made the playoffs in 2024, when they lost in six games to the Vancouver Canucks. Here’s what needs to happen for Nashville to return to the postseason.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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1 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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2 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) shoots the puck, scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks, during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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3 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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4 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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5 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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6 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Brady Skjei, Nashville Predators defenseman in NHL<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei (76) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks with center Ryan O’Reilly (90) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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7 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (90) battlesSan Jose Sharks right wing Adam Gaudette (81) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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8 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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9 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (90) battles San Jose Sharks left wing Igor Chernyshov (92) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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10 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) celebrates his goal next to San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg (3) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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11 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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12 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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13 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks with center Fedor Svechkov (40) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

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14 \/ 14<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card<\/p>\n

A catfish is removed from the ice before a game between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 24, 2026.<\/p>\n

Western Conference wild-card standings, as of March 31<\/p>\n

After games played on March 30, here’s how the Western Conference wild-card race stacks up.<\/p>\n

WC1 – Utah Mammoth (82 points, eight games left)<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Kings (76 points, nine games left)<\/p>\n

Seattle Kraken (75 points, 10 games left)<\/p>\n

San Jose Sharks (75 points, 10 games left)<\/p>\n

Winnipeg Jets (74 points, eight games left)<\/p>\n

Nashville Predators playoff picture<\/p>\n

According to Money Puck<\/a>, the Predators have a 21.3% chance of making the playoffs. The loss to the Lightning decreased that percentage from 31%. They have an 18% chance of finishing in the WC2 spot and a 3.4% chance of finishing in the WC1 spot.<\/p>\n

Their most likely first-round opponents are either the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars.<\/p>\n

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TROTZ: Why Barry Trotz’s legacy with Nashville Predators goes beyond bumpy GM tenure<\/a><\/p>\n

Nashville Predators schedule<\/p>\n

The Predators have eight games remaining on their schedule:<\/p>\n

April 2:\u00a0at Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n

April 4:\u00a0at San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n

April 6:\u00a0at Los Angeles Kings<\/p>\n

April 7:\u00a0at Anaheim Ducks<\/p>\n

April 9:\u00a0at Utah Hockey Club<\/p>\n

April 11:\u00a0Minnesota Wild<\/p>\n

April 13:\u00a0San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n

The NHL’s regular season ends on April 16 and the playoffs begin on April 18.<\/p>\n

March 31 scoreboard watch: Who do the Predators need to lose tonight?<\/p>\n

Two games affect the Western Conference wild card race. The Seattle Kraken can overtake the Predators for the second wild card spot with a win over the Oilers tonight.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg @ Chicago (7:30 p.m. CT)<\/p>\n

Seattle @ Edmonton (8 p.m. CT)<\/p>\n

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com<\/a>. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter,\u00a0@alexdaugherty1<\/a>.\u00a0Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page\u00a0@tennessean_preds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Latest Nashville Predators playoff picture, wild-card standings<\/a><\/p>\n