Predators Clinch Playoff Berth by Gaining Point Against Jets

The Nashville Predators have punched their ticket to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Though they fell to the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday, the Predators gained a point in the standings to put them at 95, guaranteeing that they will finish no lower than the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

"It’s the first one off the checklist,” said Ryan O'Reilly, who scored the tying goal in the third period to send the game to overtime. “Obviously, to make the playoffs is a huge accomplishment. I think we’re proud as a group. Guys worked hard for this. Of course, it would’ve been nice to win that one, but I thought we showed great resilience tonight. We stuck with it. I thought we owned them for most of the game. To get in the playoffs, that’s the first step. It’s a big step and something to be proud of, for sure."

The Predators outshot Winnipeg 48-22, including by a 22-5 margin in the second period; their 48 shots on goal were one short of matching a season-high, established on March 9 vs. Columbus. However, the opportunistic Jets were able to capitalize on some early chances with two goals on their first five shots of the game.

“We were probably the better team tonight,” forward Luke Evangelista said. “We just outchanced them and we were hounding them all over pucks and we had our look that we just weren't able to bury. But to outplay a team that you’re hunting in the standings, I'd say it's a good feeling, for sure.”

Entering the third period down 3-1, the Predators refused to back down. They continued to outshoot Winnipeg (12-4 in the third period), and rookie defenseman Spencer Stastney finally broke the ice. He cut it to 3-2 at 7:34 of the third period when he batted in the puck into the net as a Nashville penalty expired, and O’Reilly tied it up less than two minutes later on a wrist shot from the slot.

“It feels good,” Predators forward Michael McCarron said. “Tonight didn't go the way we wanted, but it's a process and I think we had a lot of heart. I’ve been on a lot of teams in my career, and I haven’t been on a team that fights until the end like this. It’s a pretty special group. It was good to get that point tonight, and it definitely feels good that we’re heading to the playoffs.”

When the going gets tough, the Predators get tougher. Their third-period comeback against Winnipeg embodied the "relentless" style of play that has come to define their season.

“They built the identity, not me,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. “And we’ve said it a million times, but [relentless] is just a word. It's what they do night in and night out, and I think they're wearing it very proudly and they're bringing it every night. And the process that we're going through, it's been on top of our game, and we’ve got to keep building our game. It's going to get harder and harder, but we've seemed to relish in the hardness of games and the big moments.”