Dallas Stars Will Determine Predators' Fate in Round 1

With the Predators waiting for their first round opponent, the outcome of the Dallas Stars' final game could determine which team that is.

The Nashville Predators have wrapped up their 2023-24 regular season after losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but there are still two days of games left to play in the NHL. While the Eastern Conference matchups are set, there are a couple of things that could still happen in the Western Conference to determine the Predators' fate in the first round.

With the top spot in the West still being up for grabs between the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, the team finishing with fewer points will face the Predators in the first round. This outcome will be determined by the Stars matchup against the St. Louis Blues.

Dallas has 111 points, first in the West. Vancouver has 109 points, second in the conference. The Canucks have the tie-breaker with four more regulation wins, so if the teams tie in points, Vancouver finishes higher.

The Stars need just one point against the Blues to lock up the top spot and play the team in the second wildcard spot (either Vegas Golden Knights or Los Angeles Kings). This would mean the Predators vs Canucks becomes locked in. This would place Nashville in the Pacific side of the bracket with the Edmonton Oilers and one of Vegas or Los Angeles.

If the Stars lose in regulation and the Canucks defeat the Winnipeg Jets by any means, the Predators will then end up in the Central side of the bracket and play Dallas in the first round.

The Stars play Wednesday and could lock in the matchups. But if they don't get a point, the Predators will have to wait for their Round 1 opponent at the conclusion of the games on Thursday, the final day of the regular season.

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