Nashville Predators Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Goaltending, Kemell’s First, Skidding and More – The Hockey Writers – Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators are right in the thick of late-season playoff drama. Here are the key storylines surrounding the team and their upcoming schedule for the week of March 30 – April 6, 2026.

Clinging to the Wild Card Amidst a Skid

The biggest narrative right now is survival. The Predators (currently sitting at 34-31-9 with 77 points) hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

However, they are currently riding a three-game losing streak after dropping games to the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and, most recently, a tight 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 29. Every point matters from here on out.

The Trade Deadline Gamble

Fans and analysts are still dissecting general manager Barry Trotz’s decision to largely stand pat at the early March trade deadline. Despite rumors that veterans like Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, and Jonathan Marchessault might be moved—especially with Trotz stepping down at the end of the season—the team opted to keep its core intact for this playoff push. It was a bold move, and the pressure is on to prove it was the right one.

Goaltending Woes and Annunen’s Workload

The crease has been a major talking point. Franchise goaltender Juuse Saros has been dealing with an upper-body injury lately, forcing backup Justus Annunen into the spotlight. Annunen has had to shoulder critical starts, including making 25 saves in Sunday’s tough loss to the Lightning.

Joakim Kemell’s First Goal

A silver lining in the recent Lightning loss was rookie Joakim Kemell scoring his first career NHL goal in an unconventional way, getting shoved into the net along with the puck by Tampa’s Erik Cernak.

Predators Upcoming Schedule

The Predators have a few days to rest and regroup before embarking on a critical, do-or-die West Coast road trip through California.

This California swing will likely define their season. Playing the Los Angeles Kings twice in five days is a heavy task, though the Kings struggle in their own building. The game against the San Jose Sharks, sandwiched in between, is another “must-win” trap game. The Predators cannot afford to drop points to these teams.

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