The Nashville Predators have gone from being the most dominant team in the NHL to one that can’t seem to win at all. They dropped their sixth consecutive game in Winnipeg’s 3-1 victory Saturday night.
Nashville’s offense has been part of the problem lately as its managed just six goals in its last four contests. Predators forward James Neal finished with a minus-two rating tonight and extended his point drought to nine games. Rookie scoring leader Filip Forsberg has also gone cold with just a goal and an assist over his last nine contests.
Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler netted the game-winning goal in the second period and later got an assist on an empty netter. This was his second multi-point game in three contests, giving him 18 goals and 48 points in 64 contests in 2014-15.
With a 33-21-12 record, Winnipeg has a four-point edge over the Los Angeles Kings in the Wild Card race, but the Kings have played in two less contests. At the same time, it’s worth noting that Los Angeles is closer to third place in the Pacific Division than the second Wild Card spot, so the Jets and Kings aren’t in direction competition, although that could change in a hurry.
Nashville is still leading the Central Division with a 41-19-7 record, but St. Louis is just two points back after beating Toronto tonight. Chicago is within striking distance too, so the Predators are in danger of losing the home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs if they don’t find a way to right their ship. Of course, even if their position wasn’t in jeopardy, the last thing they want to do is limp into the postseason.