Nash Daily: Predators’ Playoff Odds Rising, Holiday Roster Freeze Looming

After beginning the year with a 33% chance of making the playoffs, the Nashville Predators’ 13-3 run in their last 16 games has helped boost that number, according to The Athletic’s recent playoff projections.

The Predators have the 15th-best odds of making the playoffs (55%), per The Athletic, which gives Nashville a 19% chance of reaching the Central Division Final, a 7% chance of reaching the Western Conference Final, a 2% chance of reaching the Stanley Cup Final, and a 1% chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

The Athletic’s model has the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Vegas Golden Knights in a three-way tie for the best playoff odds (99%), while the Bruins have the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup (13%).

Nashville Hockey Now

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently speculated the Predators could be shopping more than one defenseman. Here’s the latest regarding what we’ve heard about the team’s plans for the blue line.

The Predators had a successful back-to-back over the weekend, pulling off a wild come-from-behind overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, courtesy of Filip Forsberg. The plus/minus report for that game can be found here.

Nashville followed that up with a strong 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday to sweep their most recent back-to-back. Here’s the plus/minus report from that game.

Central Division standings

1. Colorado Avalanche — 19-10-2, 40 points
2. Winnipeg Jets — 18-9-2, 38 points
3. Dallas Stars — 17-8-4, 38 points
4. Nashville Predators — 18-13-0, 36 points
5. Arizona Coyotes — 15-13-2, 32 points
6. St. Louis Blues — 15-14-1, 31 points
7. Minnesota Wild — 1-12-4, 28 points
8. Chicago Blackhawks — 9-20-1, 19 points

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

– NHL Holiday Roster Freeze Could Impact Canadiens Trade Options (Montreal Hockey Now)

– Adin Hill Injured in Golden Knights Victory vs. Ottawa Senators (Vegas Hockey Now)

– Tortorella has destroyed ‘wrong fit’ narrative for rebuilding Flyers (Philly Hockey Now)

– (+) Penguins Room: Karlsson Calls Out Team, Sullivan at a Loss (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

– David Pastrnak Will Not Face Supplemental Discipline (Boston Hockey Now)

– (+) Impact of Sasha Barkov on the Florida Panthers Is Immeasurable (Florida Hockey Now)

– Devils Takeaways: Team Lacks Discipline, Gas in 5-1 Loss to Ducks (New Jersey Hockey Now)

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