The Nashville Predators might not be content with being the team that seems too good to be in a wild card spot.
They’re about as hot as the Chicago Blackhawks are cold right now, and with Thursday’s comeback win against the Vancouver Canucks (3-2 via a shootout), there isn’t much separating these two teams.
OK, to be more precise, the Blackhawks are only ahead of the Predators by two standings points, although Chicago also holds tiebreaker edges.
Chicago: 42-25-7 for 91 points in 74 games played (41 ROW)
Nashville: 38-23-13 for 89 points in 74 GP (34 ROW)
The Blackhawks would scare the West’s second seed more than the Predators based on their robust run of titles, but Nashville’s hot enough that they’re not exactly a pleasant matchup, either:
Let's go home. #Preds win 3-2 in a shootout, Nashville now with 89 points, points in 9 straight at home. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HQ4IOWhpoM
— Brooks Bratten 🍪 (@brooksbratten) March 25, 2016
EPIC comeback! #Preds pick up the 3-2 shootout win! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/gzqeP6M0Dw
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 25, 2016
If Nashville aims to eclipse Chicago, this might be the time to do it. The Blackhawks are about to enter a four-game road trip that could be a challenge for a struggling group.
The two teams don’t have any head-to-head matchups remaining, and Predators fans might say that Chicago should be glad.
#PREDS WIN! WHAT A COMEBACK. #VANvsNSH pic.twitter.com/kpI4PKi9RW
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) March 25, 2016