Playoff Seeding & Opponent

For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the Nashville Predators will likely be hunting for a playoff berth and postseason positioning until the final days of the regular season.

The Preds magic number for locking their seed in the postseason is a combination of points gained by Nashville and potential points lost (or points not gained) by opposing teams. The beauty of magic numbers is that they can only decrease (never increase).

Nashville's magic number for clinching a playoff spot: 24 points*

Nashville's magic number for clinching the West's First Wild Card: 26 points

Nashville's magic number for clinching third place in the Central Division: 30 points**

Secondly, based on models playing out the regular-season schedule repeatedly and consistently on a daily basis, the Predators' most likely first-round playoff opponent(s) are listed and their pertinent stats included further down on this page.

Thirdly, the very-likely scenario for the 2020 playoff bracket is for the second Wild Card in the Western Conference to face the winner of the Central Division and the first Wild Card in the West to challenge the winner of the Pacific Division.

Lastly, and most importantly, (almost) anything is possible. Sports Club Stats is the source used to help generate playoff clinching and future opponent scenarios.

*Includes head-to-head wins versus Wild

**The Preds do not control their own destiny for third place in the Central Division. The indicated magic number would result in a tie, with tiebreakers still to be determined.