Predators Kick Off 2024 with a Challenging January Schedule

Nashville will also play the L.A. Kings twice in January. The Kings will be the middle game of a three game road trip mid month and then the Kings will lay at Bridgestone Arena to wrap up the month. The Predators will also face reigning Stanely Cup champion Golden Knights, Islanders, Panthers, and Coyotes who are all in the playoff picture. 

Central Division Rivals

The Predators and Coyotes are currently holding those valuable wild card spots, and the teams will face off January 20 at Mullet Arena. Arizona won four of their last five to close out 2023 and former Predator goalie Connor Ingram has been a big part of the Coyotes' success this season. 

Then there is Dallas. After taking a 2-0 lead in the game against the Stars on December 23, Nashville went on to give up two goals in the final thirteen seconds to lose in regulation. The Predators need to prove they can hang in with one of the best teams in the division and they will also need points from their two matchup against the Stars. 

Nashville will kick off the new year with a home game against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, and while the Blackhawks are at the bottom of the league they are a team that can play spoiler if Nashville doesn't clean up inconsistencies in games that left valuable points on the table at the end of December. Minnesota will host Nashville on December 25, and the Predators will need to win over a Wild team that has gone 10-5 since former Predators head coach John Hynes took over. 

Playoff Implications

Of course, Nashville will need to take care of business if they want to stay in the playoff picture, but it won't be easy with as tough a January schedule as they have. While the Preds play eight games against playoff contenders, the Seattle Kraken and Edmonton Oilers have much easier schedules with just three current postseason teams on their schedules for the month. 

Arizona and Winnipeg will have their work cut out for them in January with games against top teams in the league as well. The Coyotes will face seven of the top teams while the Jets have six current playoff teams on their schedule for the month. 

Nashville will need to clean up some bad habits they have fallen back into in recent games. The Predators have given up leads, committed costly turnovers, and played with inconsistency that Andrew Brunette will want corrected. Those small errors could cost the team big as they battle through a tough January schedule. 

If the Preds can come up with some big wins and keep themselves in the playoff conversation, it may make Barry Trotz rethink his moves at the trade deadline on March 8. With a lengthy list of UFA's to sort through, January could be a good time for players like Cole Smith, Michael McCarron, Tommy Novak, and Yakov Trenin to show they can play with more consistency against top teams in the league.

After a handful of shaky games to end the month of December, the Predators need to prepare for a month of challenging opponents and play some of their best hockey of the season so far.