2020–21 Nashville Predators season

	2020–21 Nashville Predators
Division	4th Central
2020–21 record	31–23–2
Home record	18–10–0
Road record	13–13–2
Goals for	156
Goals against	154
Team information
General manager	David Poile
Coach	John Hynes
Captain	Roman Josi
Alternate captains	Mattias Ekholm; Ryan Ellis; Filip Forsberg; Ryan Johansen
Arena	Bridgestone Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)	Milwaukee Admirals (AHL); Chicago Wolves (AHL); Florida Everblades (ECHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Mikael Granlund; Calle Jarnkrok (13)
Assists	Roman Josi (25)
Points	Roman Josi (33)
Penalty minutes	Mathieu Olivier (70)
Plus/minus	Mattias Ekholm (+19)
Wins	Juuse Saros (21)
Goals against average	Juuse Saros (2.28)
	← 2019–20 2021–22 →

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 only played games against the other teams in their realigned division during the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

On May 8, 2021, the Predators clinched a playoff berth after a 3–1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.^[3]

Standings[]

Central Division[]

Central Division
Pos	Team [v • d • 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	Recap
2	January 16	Columbus	2–5	Nashville		Saros	0	2–0–0	4	Recap
3	January 18	Carolina	4–2	Nashville		Rinne	0	2–1–0	4	Recap
—	January 19	Carolina	–	Nashville	Postponed due to COVID-19.^[6] Rescheduled for March 2.
4	January 22	Nashville	0–7	Dallas		Saros	4,214	2–2–0	4	Recap
5	January 24	Nashville	2–3	Dallas		Saros	4,056	2–3–0	4	Recap
6	January 26	Chicago	2–3	Nashville	OT	Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	3–3–0	6	Recap
7	January 27	Chicago	1–2	Nashville	SO	Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	4–3–0	8	Recap
8	January 30	Nashville	3–4	Tampa Bay		Rinne	0	4–4–0	8	Recap

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	Recap
10	February 4	Nashville	6–5	Florida	OT	Rinne	3,698	5–5–0	10	Recap
11	February 5	Nashville	1–2	Florida		Rinne	3,977	5–6–0	10	Recap
12	February 8	Tampa Bay	4–1	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	5–7–0	10	Recap
13	February 9	Tampa Bay	6–1	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	5–8–0	10	Recap
14	February 11	Detroit	2–3	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	6–8–0	12	Recap
15	February 13	Detroit	4–2	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	6–9–0	12	Recap
—	February 15	Nashville	–	Dallas	Postponed due to winter storm.^[7] Rescheduled for March 7.^[8]
—	February 16	Nashville	–	Dallas	Postponed due to winter storm.^[9] Rescheduled for March 21.^[8]
16	February 18	Nashville	0–3	Columbus		Saros	0	6–10–0	12	Recap
17	February 20	Nashville	4–2	Columbus		Rinne	0	7–10–0	14	Recap
18	February 23	Nashville	2–0	Detroit		Rinne	0	8–10–0	16	Recap
19	February 25	Nashville	2–5	Detroit		Rinne	0	8–11–0	16	Recap
20	February 27	Columbus	1–2	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	9–11–0	18	Recap
21	February 28	Columbus	1–3	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	10–11–0	20	Recap

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	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	10–12–0	20	Recap
23	March 4	Florida	5–4	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	10–13–0	20	Recap
24	March 6	Florida	6–2	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	10–14–0	20	Recap
25	March 7	Nashville	4–3	Dallas	SO	Rinne	3,976	11–14–0	22	Recap
26	March 9	Nashville	2–3	Carolina	OT	Rinne	2,924	11–14–1	23	Recap
27	March 11	Nashville	1–5	Carolina		Rinne	2,924	11–15–1	23	Recap
28	March 13	Nashville	3–6	Tampa Bay		Rinne	3,800	11–16–1	23	Recap
29	March 15	Nashville	4–1	Tampa Bay		Rinne	3,800	12–16–1	25	Recap
30	March 18	Nashville	2–1	Florida		Saros	4,559	13–16–1	27	Recap
31	March 20	Nashville	0–2	Florida		Saros	4,358	13–17–1	27	Recap
32	March 21	Nashville	4–3	Dallas	SO	Rinne	4,011	14–17–1	29	Recap
33	March 23	Detroit	0–2	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	15–17–1	31	Recap
34	March 25	Detroit	1–7	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	16–17–1	33	Recap
35	March 27	Nashville	3–1	Chicago		Saros	0	17–17–1	35	Recap
36	March 28	Nashville	3–2	Chicago		Rinne	0	18–17–1	37	Recap
37	March 30	Dallas	2–3	Nashville	OT	Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	19–17–1	39	Recap

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	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	19–18–1	39	Recap
39	April 3	Chicago	0–3	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	20–18–1	41	Recap
40	April 6	Nashville	3–2	Detroit	SO	Saros	0	21–18–1	43	Recap
41	April 8	Nashville	7–1	Detroit		Saros	0	22–18–1	45	Recap
42	April 10	Tampa Bay	3–0	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	22–19–1	45	Recap
43	April 11	Dallas	2–3	Nashville	SO	Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	23–19–1	47	Recap
44	April 13	Tampa Bay	2–7	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	24–19–1	49	Recap
45	April 15	Nashville	1–4	Carolina		Saros	4,987	24–20–1	49	Recap
46	April 17	Nashville	1–3	Carolina		Saros	4,987	24–21–1	49	Recap
47	April 19	Chicago	2–5	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	25–21–1	51	Recap
48	April 21	Nashville	4–5	Chicago	OT	Saros	0	25–21–2	52	Recap
49	April 23	Nashville	3–1	Chicago		Saros	0	26–21–2	54	Recap
50	April 26	Florida	1–4	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	27–21–2	56	Recap
51	April 27	Florida	7–4	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	27–22–2	56	Recap

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	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	28–22–2	58	Recap
53	May 3	Nashville	4–3	Columbus	OT	Saros	4,210	29–22–2	60	Recap
54	May 5	Nashville	2–4	Columbus		Saros	4,084	29–23–2	60	Recap
55	May 8	Carolina	1–3	Nashville		Saros	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	30–23–2	62	Recap
56	May 10	Carolina	0–5	Nashville		Rinne	—^{[lower-alpha 1]}	31–23–2	64	Recap

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

Playoffs[]

Main article: 2021 Stanley Cup 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	Recap
2	May 19	Nashville	0–3	Carolina		Saros	12,000	0–2	Recap
3	May 21	Carolina	4–5	Nashville	2OT	Saros	12,135	1–2	Recap
4	May 23	Carolina	3–4	Nashville	2OT	Saros	12,135	2–2	Recap
5	May 25	Nashville	2–3	Carolina	OT	Saros	12,000	2–3	Recap
6	May 27	Carolina	4–3	Nashville	OT	Saros	14,107	2–4	Recap

Legend: Win Loss

Draft picks[]

See also: List of Nashville Predators 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)	RUS	SKA-Neva (VHL)
2	42	Luke Evangelista	(RW)	CAN	London Knights (OHL)
3	73	Luke Prokop	(D)	CAN	Calgary Hitman (OHL)
4	101	Adam Wilsby	(D)	SWE	Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
6	166	Luke Reid	(D)	CAN	Chicago Steel (USHL)
7	202	Gunnarwolfe Fontaine	(LW)	USA	Northeastern Huskies (H-East)
7	209	Chase McLane	(C)	USA	Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)

Notes[]

↑ Wolves take on Predators as second affiliate for 2020-21 (January 7, 2021).
↑ National Hockey League (2013). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. Diamond Sports Data, Inc., 81. ISBN 978-1-894801-26-3.
↑ Predators clinch playoff berth, defeat Hurricanes for first time (May 8, 2021).
↑ NHL Hockey Standings. National Hockey League.
↑ 2020-21 NHL schedule announced (December 23, 2020).
↑ Hurricanes-Predators game postponed due to COVID-19 (January 19, 2021).
↑ Predators-Stars game postponed because of winter storm. Retrieved on February 15, 2021.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule (February 23, 2021).
↑ Stars, Predators game scheduled for Tuesday postponed. Retrieved on February 16, 2021.

References[]

Nashville Predators
Franchise • Players • Coaches • GMs • Seasons • Records • Draft picks • Sommet Center • Milwaukee Admirals • New Mexico Scorpions

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[1] Wolves take on Predators as second affiliate for 2020-21 (January 7, 2021).

[2] National Hockey League (2013). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. Diamond Sports Data, Inc., 81. ISBN 978-1-894801-26-3.

[3] Predators clinch playoff berth, defeat Hurricanes for first time (May 8, 2021).

[nhl-div-4] NHL Hockey Standings. National Hockey League.

[5] 2020-21 NHL schedule announced (December 23, 2020).

[6] Hurricanes-Predators game postponed due to COVID-19 (January 19, 2021).

[8] Predators-Stars game postponed because of winter storm. Retrieved on February 15, 2021.

[Rescheduled-9] 8.0 ^8.1 NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule (February 23, 2021).

[10] Stars, Predators game scheduled for Tuesday postponed. Retrieved on February 16, 2021.

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2020-21 NHL season
North	Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - Montreal Canadiens - Ottawa Senators - Toronto Maple Leafs - Vancouver Canucks - Winnipeg Jets
West	Anaheim Ducks - Arizona Coyotes - Colorado Avalanche - Los Angeles Kings - Minnesota Wild - San Jose Sharks - St. Louis Blues - Vegas Golden Knights
Central	Carolina Hurricanes - Chicago Blackhawks - Columbus Blue Jackets - Dallas Stars - Detroit Red Wings - Florida Panthers - Nashville Predators - Tampa Bay Lightning
East	Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - New Jersey Devils - New York Islanders - New York Rangers - Philadelphia Flyers - Pittsburgh Penguins - Washington Capitals
See also	Draft - NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe - Stanley Cup playoffs - Stanley Cup Finals - Transactions - Three Star Awards - Suspensions and fines