As the Nashville Predators head into a crucial weekend, the nhl standings wild card picture rests on two home games and a tangle of tiebreakers. The Predators are two points behind the Seattle Kraken and will meet them at home on Thursday with a second home game on Saturday, and the team’s decision to stand pat at the trade deadline leaves veterans and recalled prospects to shoulder the push. This timeline is set for the week of March 16-23, 2026 (ET).
Nhl Standings Wild Card: the math and immediate scenarios
The most immediate fact: four points are available to Nashville over the next two home games, and a regulation win over Seattle would tie the Kraken in points while creating several tiebreaker permutations. A regulation victory would place both teams at identical records in one projection, but the Kraken would retain the Wild Card slot on the regulation wins (RW) tiebreaker because Seattle holds more regulation wins than Nashville in the current standings. Los Angeles and San Jose remain variables: if either pickup of points changes their totals, they can leapfrog or tie Nashville and Seattle, altering who occupies the final spot.
Those permutations hinge on wins, regulation wins, and other teams’ outcomes — the Predators can control only their two games at home and their play over the coming days.
Immediate reactions
General manager Barry Trotz opted not to tear down the roster at the trade deadline, keeping core veterans and creating a clear message about the club’s belief in its current group. Barry Trotz, general manager, Nashville Predators.
Steven Stamkos, 36 and carrying 31 goals this season, and Ryan O’Reilly stayed in Nashville through the deadline, with Stamkos publicly refusing to waive his no-movement clause — a move that kept veteran scoring and leadership intact. Steven Stamkos, forward, Nashville Predators.
Captain Roman Josi criticized what he called “the team’s recurring habit of giving up early leads and struggling in the first period. ” Roman Josi, captain, Nashville Predators.
On the youth and depth front, Nashville recalled prospects from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL; Fedor Svechkov scored the lone goal in the club’s recent loss to Edmonton, and defenseman Ryan Ufko recorded his first career NHL goal in a comeback win against Seattle earlier in the season. Head coach Andrew Brunette has leaned on that mix as the club navigates a gauntlet schedule. Fedor Svechkov, forward, Nashville Predators; Ryan Ufko, defenseman, Nashville Predators; Andrew Brunette, head coach, Nashville Predators.
What’s next
Nashville closes out a difficult road stretch, returns to Smashville for two critical home games this weekend, then faces a quick turnaround on the road in Chicago — all of which will shape the nhl standings wild card chase. The Predators control their fate only in part: regulation wins and other clubs’ results will determine whether a weekend sweep moves them into a prime position. Expect the team to lean on veterans kept at the deadline and the recalled youth to push for the points needed over the immediate slate. Updated for the week of March 16-23, 2026 (ET).
