Can the Predators pull off an improbable push for the playoffs?

When the Nashville Predators’ eight-game road trip started on March 7, it’s safe to assume nobody thought we’d be talking about the Predators just four points away from being in the playoffs.

At that point, they had just 20 points and were battling the Dallas Stars for next-to-last in the Central Division. But now, after a 4-3-1 road trip that yielded nine big points, Nashville trails the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks by just four points for the Central’s fourth and final playoff slot.