2020–21 Nashville Predators season

Season of play of professional ice hockey team

2020–21 Nashville Predators
Division4th Central
2020–21 record31–23–2
Home record18–10–0
Road record13–13–2
Goals for156
Goals against154
Team information
General managerDavid Poile
CoachJohn Hynes
CaptainRoman Josi
Alternate captainsMattias Ekholm
Ryan Ellis
Filip Forsberg
Ryan Johansen
ArenaBridgestone Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Chicago Wolves (AHL)[1]
Florida Everblades (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsMikael Granlund
Calle Jarnkrok (13)
AssistsRoman Josi (25)
PointsRoman Josi (33)
Penalty minutesMathieu Olivier (70)
Plus/minusMattias Ekholm (+19)
WinsJuuse Saros (21)
Goals against averageJuuse Saros (2.28)

The 2020–21 Nashville Predators season was the 23rd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.[2] John Hynes entered his second season as coach and first full season as head coach of the team. On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Predators remained in the Central Division this season and would only play games against the other teams in their realigned division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On May 8, 2021, the Predators clinched a playoff berth after a 3–1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.[3] They were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round with a 4–3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in game six.

Standings

Central Division
Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Carolina Hurricanes 56 36 12 8 27 179 136 +43 80
2 x – Florida Panthers 56 37 14 5 26 189 153 +36 79
3 x – Tampa Bay Lightning 56 36 17 3 29 181 147 +34 75
4 x – Nashville Predators 56 31 23 2 21 156 154 +2 64
5 e – Dallas Stars 56 23 19 14 17 158 154 +4 60
6 e – Chicago Blackhawks 56 24 25 7 15 161 186 −25 55
7 e – Detroit Red Wings 56 19 27 10 17 127 171 −44 48
8 e – Columbus Blue Jackets 56 18 26 12 12 137 187 −50 48
Source: National Hockey League[4]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[5]

2020–21 game log
January: 4–4–0 (Home: 4–1–0 ; Road: 0–3–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
1 January 14 Columbus 1–3 Nashville Saros 0 1–0–0 2 [6]
2 January 16 Columbus 2–5 Nashville Saros 0 2–0–0 4 [7]
3 January 18 Carolina 4–2 Nashville Rinne 0 2–1–0 4 [8]
— January 19 Carolina – Nashville Postponed due to COVID-19.[9] Rescheduled for March 2.
4 January 22 Nashville 0–7 Dallas Saros 4,214 2–2–0 4 [10]
5 January 24 Nashville 2–3 Dallas Saros 4,056 2–3–0 4 [11]
6 January 26 Chicago 2–3 Nashville OT Rinne —[a] 3–3–0 6 [12]
7 January 27 Chicago 1–2 Nashville SO Saros —[a] 4–3–0 8 [13]
8 January 30 Nashville 3–4 Tampa Bay Rinne 0 4–4–0 8 [14]
February: 6–7–0 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 3–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
9 February 1 Nashville 2–5 Tampa Bay Saros 0 4–5–0 8 [15]
10 February 4 Nashville 6–5 Florida OT Rinne 3,698 5–5–0 10 [16]
11 February 5 Nashville 1–2 Florida Rinne 3,977 5–6–0 10 [17]
12 February 8 Tampa Bay 4–1 Nashville Rinne —[a] 5–7–0 10 [18]
13 February 9 Tampa Bay 6–1 Nashville Saros —[a] 5–8–0 10 [19]
14 February 11 Detroit 2–3 Nashville Rinne —[a] 6–8–0 12 [20]
15 February 13 Detroit 4–2 Nashville Rinne —[a] 6–9–0 12 [21]
— February 15 Nashville – Dallas Postponed due to winter storm.[22] Rescheduled for March 7.[23]
— February 16 Nashville – Dallas Postponed due to winter storm.[24] Rescheduled for March 21.[23]
16 February 18 Nashville 0–3 Columbus Saros 0 6–10–0 12 [25]
17 February 20 Nashville 4–2 Columbus Rinne 0 7–10–0 14 [26]
18 February 23 Nashville 2–0 Detroit Rinne 0 8–10–0 16 [27]
19 February 25 Nashville 2–5 Detroit Rinne 0 8–11–0 16 [28]
20 February 27 Columbus 1–2 Nashville Saros —[a] 9–11–0 18 [29]
21 February 28 Columbus 1–3 Nashville Saros —[a] 10–11–0 20 [30]
March: 9–6–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 6–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
22 March 2 Carolina 4–2 Nashville Rinne —[a] 10–12–0 20 [31]
23 March 4 Florida 5–4 Nashville Rinne —[a] 10–13–0 20 [32]
24 March 6 Florida 6–2 Nashville Rinne —[a] 10–14–0 20 [33]
25 March 7 Nashville 4–3 Dallas SO Rinne 3,976 11–14–0 22 [34]
26 March 9 Nashville 2–3 Carolina OT Rinne 2,924 11–14–1 23 [35]
27 March 11 Nashville 1–5 Carolina Rinne 2,924 11–15–1 23 [36]
28 March 13 Nashville 3–6 Tampa Bay Rinne 3,800 11–16–1 23 [37]
29 March 15 Nashville 4–1 Tampa Bay Rinne 3,800 12–16–1 25 [38]
30 March 18 Nashville 2–1 Florida Saros 4,559 13–16–1 27 [39]
31 March 20 Nashville 0–2 Florida Saros 4,358 13–17–1 27 [40]
32 March 21 Nashville 4–3 Dallas SO Rinne 4,011 14–17–1 29 [41]
33 March 23 Detroit 0–2 Nashville Saros —[a] 15–17–1 31 [42]
34 March 25 Detroit 1–7 Nashville Saros —[a] 16–17–1 33 [43]
35 March 27 Nashville 3–1 Chicago Saros 0 17–17–1 35 [44]
36 March 28 Nashville 3–2 Chicago Rinne 0 18–17–1 37 [45]
37 March 30 Dallas 2–3 Nashville OT Saros —[a] 19–17–1 39 [46]
April: 8–5–1 (Home: 5–3–0 ; Road: 3–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
38 April 1 Dallas 4–1 Nashville Saros —[a] 19–18–1 39 [47]
39 April 3 Chicago 0–3 Nashville Saros —[a] 20–18–1 41 [48]
40 April 6 Nashville 3–2 Detroit SO Saros 0 21–18–1 43 [49]
41 April 8 Nashville 7–1 Detroit Saros 0 22–18–1 45 [50]
42 April 10 Tampa Bay 3–0 Nashville Rinne —[a] 22–19–1 45 [51]
43 April 11 Dallas 2–3 Nashville SO Saros —[a] 23–19–1 47 [52]
44 April 13 Tampa Bay 2–7 Nashville Saros —[a] 24–19–1 49 [53]
45 April 15 Nashville 1–4 Carolina Saros 4,987 24–20–1 49 [54]
46 April 17 Nashville 1–3 Carolina Saros 4,987 24–21–1 49 [55]
47 April 19 Chicago 2–5 Nashville Saros —[a] 25–21–1 51 [56]
48 April 21 Nashville 4–5 Chicago OT Saros 0 25–21–2 52 [57]
49 April 23 Nashville 3–1 Chicago Saros 0 26–21–2 54 [58]
50 April 26 Florida 1–4 Nashville Saros —[a] 27–21–2 56 [59]
51 April 27 Florida 7–4 Nashville Saros —[a] 27–22–2 56 [60]
May: 4–1–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
52 May 1 Dallas 0–1 Nashville OT Saros —[a] 28–22–2 58 [61]
53 May 3 Nashville 4–3 Columbus OT Saros 4,210 29–22–2 60 [62]
54 May 5 Nashville 2–4 Columbus Saros 4,084 29–23–2 60 [63]
55 May 8 Carolina 1–3 Nashville Saros —[a] 30–23–2 62 [64]
56 May 10 Carolina 0–5 Nashville Rinne —[a] 31–23–2 64 [65]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Postponement

Playoffs

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
Central Division First Round vs. (C1) Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina won 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap
1 May 17 Nashville 2–5 Carolina Saros 12,000 0–1 [66]
2 May 19 Nashville 0–3 Carolina Saros 12,000 0–2 [67]
3 May 21 Carolina 4–5 Nashville 2OT Saros 12,135 1–2 [68]
4 May 23 Carolina 3–4 Nashville 2OT Saros 12,135 2–2 [69]
5 May 25 Nashville 2–3 Carolina OT Saros 12,000 2–3 [70]
6 May 27 Carolina 4–3 Nashville OT Saros 14,107 2–4 [71]

Legend:   Win   Loss


Draft picks

Below are the Nashville Predators selections at the 2020 NHL Draft which was held on October 6–7 at the NHL Studios.

Round # Player Pos Nationally College/Junior/Club team (league)
1 11 Yaroslav Askarov (G)  Russia SKA-Neva (VHL)
2 42 Luke Evangelista (RW)  Canada London Knights (OHL)
3 73 Luke Prokop (D)  Canada Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
4 101 Adam Wilsby (D)  Sweden Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
6 166 Luke Reid (D)  Canada Chicago Steel (USHL)
7 202 Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (LW)  United States Northeastern Huskies (H-East)
7 209 Chase McLane (C)  United States Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.

References

  1. ^ "Wolves take on Predators as second affiliate for 2020-21". AHL. January 7, 2021.
  2. ^ National Hockey League (2013). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. Diamond Sports Data, Inc. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-894801-26-3.
  3. ^ "Predators clinch playoff berth, defeat Hurricanes for first time". NHL.com. May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - January 14th, 2021". NHL.com.
  7. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Nashville Predators - January 16th, 2021". NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - January 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Hurricanes-Predators game postponed due to COVID-19". NHLcom. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Nashville Predators - Dallas Stars - January 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  11. ^ "Nashville Predators - Dallas Stars - January 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  12. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Nashville Predators - January 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Nashville Predators - January 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Nashville Predators - Tampa Bay Lightning - January 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
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  16. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - February 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  17. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - February 5th, 2021". NHL.com.
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  21. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Nashville Predators - February 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  22. ^ "Predators-Stars game postponed because of winter storm". NHL.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule". NHL.com. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  24. ^ "Stars, Predators game scheduled for Tuesday postponed". NHL.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
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  27. ^ "Nashville Predators - Detroit Red Wings - February 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
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  33. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - March 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  34. ^ "Nashville Predators - Dallas Stars - March 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  35. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - March 9th, 2021". NHL.com.
  36. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - March 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
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  38. ^ "Nashville Predators - Tampa Bay Lightning - March 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  39. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - March 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  40. ^ "Nashville Predators - Florida Panthers - March 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  41. ^ "Nashville Predators - Dallas Stars - March 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
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  43. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Nashville Predators - March 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
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  45. ^ "Nashville Predators - Chicago Blackhawks - March 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
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  49. ^ "Nashville Predators - Detroit Red Wings - April 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  50. ^ "Nashville Predators - Detroit Red Wings - April 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  51. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Nashville Predators - April 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  52. ^ "Dallas Stars - Nashville Predators - April 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  53. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Nashville Predators - April 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  54. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - April 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  55. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - April 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  56. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Nashville Predators - April 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  57. ^ "Nashville Predators - Chicago Blackhawks - April 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
  58. ^ "Nashville Predators - Chicago Blackhawks - April 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  59. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - April 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  60. ^ "Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - April 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  61. ^ "Dallas Stars - Nashville Predators - May 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  62. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  63. ^ "Nashville Predators - Columbus Blue Jackets - May 5th, 2021". NHL.com.
  64. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  65. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  66. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  67. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  68. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
  69. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  70. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  71. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 27th, 2021". NHL.com.