Nashville Predators Making Strong Push for Fifth-Straight Playoff Appearance

Many people, including myself, were counting the Predators out for making their fifth- straight playoff appearance. When it's all said and done, I may be standing corrected.

The Predators have now strung together four consecutive wins, three of those coming against division opponents.

They're latest victim coming Saturday night defeating the Red Wings 8-0, their largest goal total since January 2007.

This is by far the biggest win of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time.

The Predators are sitting right in the middle of an enormous clump of teams all fighting for their playoff lives.

Going into tonight's action, only 10 points separates the last place team (Colorado) and the eighth place team (Anaheim).

Every team has at least 18 games left on the schedule, which leaves every team still mathematically alive for the playoffs.

One of the most common cliches in sports is that you want to be hot going into the playoffs, and the Predators are definitely one of the hottest teams in the league right now.

A big part of that is the impressive play of goalie Pekka Rinne, who had only played in three games prior to this season. He's already hammered out six shutouts this season.

The return of Steve Sullivan has also provided a huge spark to this Nashville offense that is close to the bottom in total goals scored this season.

Players like J.P. Dumont and David Legwand have also stepped up their game and have helped push the Predators back into the playoff picture.

If the Predators do sneak into the playoffs, they could be even more dangerous then they were last season.

They still have the same ingredients of last season's team, but with the offensive leadership of Steve Sullivan.

The remainder of the Predators' schedule includes a ton of games against Western Conference opponents that are fighting for the same few playoff spots they are fighting for.

They have Anaheim twice, Columbus three times, and end the regular season in Minnesota, which could decide the final playoff spot.

With all of the clutter in the Western Conference playoff race, this last part of the season is going to prove to be one of the best playoff races the NHL has seen of recent time.

If the Predators come out with one of those final spots, then it's likely they could sneak into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Once you reach the playoffs, it's usually a matter of whose the hottest.

The Predators will look to keep their sizzle alive tonight as they host Edmonton, who is currently one point ahead of the Predators in the standings.