With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com is taking stock of each of the League's 31 teams.

Nashville Predators

Record: 35-26-8, 78 points

Playoff position: Tied with Vancouver Canucks for second wild card into Stanley Cup Playoffs from Western Conference

The Predators have not had the season most expected. Touted as a contender for the Stanley Cup before the season, the Predators floated around the edges of the playoff picture until a recent hot stretch pulled them into a tie for the final Western Conference wild-card position and within four points of the Dallas Stars for third place in the Central Division.

On Jan. 6, Nashville fired Peter Laviolette, who had coached the Predators for six seasons and helped them advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their history in 2017. Nashville was 19-15-7 and in fifth place in the Central Division at the time of Laviolette's firing, holding the 11th-most points (45) in the Western Conference. He was replaced by John Hynes, who was fired as coach of the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 3. Under Hynes, the Predators have gone 16-11-1.

More Predators season snapshot coverage: Awards | Fantasy honors | Memorable moments

The Predators have had two main bright spots: defenseman Roman Josi and goalie Juuse Saros.

Josi has emerged as a contender for the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL. The 29-year-old has NHL career highs in goals (16), assists (49) and points (65). He is tied for second with Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues among NHL defensemen in goals, behind Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (20), and is second in assists and points behind John Carlson, who has 75 points (15 goals, 60 assists) for the Washington Capitals. Josi also has 260 shots on goal, the most among NHL defensemen.

Saros has taken over as the No. 1 goalie under Hynes, with longtime starter Pekka Rinne struggling to find his form. Saros is 12-5-0 in his past 19 games (17 starts) with a 2.13 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, which ranks second among NHL goalies who have played at least 10 games since Jan. 6, behind Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins (.938). Rinne is 4-6-1 with a 3.59 GAA and .895 save percentage in that span.

Video: Season Snapshot: Nashville Predators

Breakout player

Rocco Grimaldi: He had 10 goals in a 90-game NHL career with three teams entering the season. The 27-year-old forward has NHL career highs of 10 goals and 31 points in 66 games this season, his second with Nashville. He is tied for sixth in points among Predators forwards despite getting 12:39 of ice time per game, the 11th-highest average in the group. He parlayed his performance into a two-year contract, which he signed Feb. 24.

Video: Top 10 Predators Plays ... Thus Far

Statement win

Predators 1, Stars 0, March 7: Saros made 37 saves, and defenseman Ryan Ellis scored when the Predators shut out the Stars for the second straight game in a 1-0 win at Dallas. Saros made 33 saves in a 2-0 victory in Nashville two days earlier.

Video: Saros, Preds shut out Stars in second of back-to-back

Most compelling game

Stars 4, Predators 2, Jan. 1: The Predators played outdoors for the first time in their history, on New Year's Day against the Stars in the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Predators took a 2-0 lead on power-play goals by Matt Duchene and Dante Fabbro, but then surrendered four straight goals. Laviolette was fired five days later.

Video: Stars complete comeback to win 2020 Winter Classic