As the calendar turns to March and the regular season’s last full month, the Predators continue their five-game homestand with some standings points to be had in their playoff push.
First Period
Sat., March 2 vs. Colorado Avalanche
The Predators have only faced fellow Central Division opponent Colorado once this season, a 4-3 Nashville home win Nov. 20. Colorado is battling for the top spot in the Central with Winnipeg and Dallas. Nearly unbeatable at home, they are somewhat surprisingly a sub-.500 team on the road this season.
Nathan MacKinnon is a Hart Trophy candidate as the league’s most valuable player this season.
Second Period
Tue., March 5 vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens make their only visit to Nashville this season hovering close to the basement of the Eastern Conference standings. The Predators defeated Montreal in their only meeting of the season thus far, a Dec. 10 win in Quebec. Both Predator goals were scored by Colton Sissons and a 36-save performance by Juuse Saros secured the slim victory margin.
Montreal is paced by young forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky was the somewhat surprising top overall pick in the 2022 Draft.
Third Period
Thur., March 7 vs. the Buffalo Sabres
Like the Canadiens, Buffalo will be making their only visit to Nashville this season. The Predators downed the Sabres 2-1 in Western New York Dec. 3. Buffalo entered the season with fairly high expectations, with many predicting the Sabres to be a playoff team. That hasn’t materialized and Buffalo will once again miss the postseason.
Buffalo’s top goaltender is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and should he get the call against the Predators, it will be a goaltending matchup the late Jimmy Buffett would enjoy with a Finn to the left and a Finn to the right in the respective goal creases, with either Saros or Kevin Lankinen on the other side for Nashville.
Getting two points against both Montreal and Buffalo should be high on Nashville’s to-do list as they angle toward securing a playoff spot.