Predators Get Taste of Playoffs in 4-2 Loss to Penguins

The Nashville Predators closed out the 2023-24 regular season with a 4-2 road loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist scored, Ryan McDonagh dished out two assists and Juuse Saros made 34 saves for the Predators, who finished the regular season with 99 points and a 47-30-5 record.

With the loss, the Predators still remain three points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, although Vegas still has a chance to leapfrog them in the playoff seeding with two games in hand.

Predators Get Playoff Simulation in Regular Season Finale

The Predators made it clear they were playing to win, icing their regular lineup against Pittsburgh despite resting a handful of usual starters over their previous two games after clinching a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last week. The only exception was defenseman Alexandre Carrier , who was held out of the lineup for roster management purposes after he missed most of the third period in Nashville's 6-4 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 13 .

The Predators knew they were going to get the best version of Pittsburgh on Monday, as the latter is one of four teams vying for the last remaining playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It would be virtually impossible for the Predators to match Pittsburgh's desperation in Monday's contest, given that they had already secured their spot in the postseason, but it was a good test in weathering hostile road environments before Nashville heads into the playoffs.

"This environment is fantastic," Predators assistant coach Dan Hinote told Bally Sports South's Lyndsay Rowley during the second period . "It's great for our guys to get a little taste of this before playoffs because this is playoffs right here. They're obviously fighting for their lives; we're fighting for ours, too. So, I love this game. This is great for our guys to get a little taste like this."

Lauzon Breaks NHL Hits Record

With nine hits on the night, Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon set a new NHL record for hits in a single season (383). The record was previously held by Matt Martin, who recorded 382 hits with the New York Islanders in 2014-15.

Entering the game against Pittsburgh with 374 hits on the season, Lauzon needed eight to tie Martin's record and nine to pass it; he had had already hit the nine-hit mark six times this season, most recently doing so March 28 against the Arizona Coyotes (11). His personal best this season is 12 (Jan. 15 vs. Vegas).

Predators' Playoff Path Still Uncertain

While Nashville has already clinched a playoff spot, the loss to Pittsburgh leaves open the possibility that the Predators fall to the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference by season's end.

The Predators' regular season is done, and they can officially clinch the first Wild Card spot if the Golden Knights drop at least one point against either the Chicago Blackhawks or Anaheim Ducks in their final two games this week.

Alternatively, if the Los Angeles Kings lose to Chicago or the Minnesota Wild in their final two contests, Vegas can jump into third place in the Pacific Division; in this case, the Predators would clinch the first Wild Card spot while the Kings fall to the second.