Predators Clinch Top Seed in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Last season, the Nashville Predators just made it into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, getting in as the eighth seed in the West. They went all the way to the Finals, before losing in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, they are going in as the President’s Trophy winner, which is awarded to the team with the most points in the NHL season. They’ll have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Nashville is 27-9-4 at home, with the regular season finale vs. Columbus on April 7th. Nashville’s overall record is 52-18-11 (115 points).

The Predators beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 in Washington on April 5th to clinch the top spot.

Washington knows all about the President’s Trophy; the Capitals won it the past two seasons before losing to Pittsburgh in the second round both times. The last President’s Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup was the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012-13.

The New Jersey Devils have never won the President’s Trophy, but they have won three Stanley Cups, the last one in 2002-3. However, since losing to the Los Angeles Kings in the Finals in 2011-12, the Devils failed to make the playoffs for five years. That ended when New Jersey beat Toronto 2-1 in Newark on April 5th. The win gave the Devils 97 points with one game to go. Last year, New Jersey had 70 points and finished dead last in the Eastern Conference.

Also on April 5th, although they lost in overtime to the Penguins, the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched a spot in the playoffs. The one point awarded for an overtime loss put them in.