If the Nashville Predators do not want to be at home for the NHL playoffs they need to start playing better in home games. And soon.

Seven of Nashville’s first nine games following the All-Star break are at Bridgestone Arena, the second of which is Thursday against Philadelphia (7 p.m., Fox Sports-Tennessee). For a team that currently one point up in the race for the final Western Conference wild card spot, so many home games should be an opportunity to put some distance on some teams.