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Predators clinch playoff berth after slipping by Caps

Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg

Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg

AP

The Nashville Predators clinched their playoff spot after beating the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Saturday.

There were some tense moments, mind you. Nashville chased Braden Holtby after scoring three goals in the first period, yet Washington made things interesting. The Predators never trailed in (perhaps fittingly) clinching a postseason berth against former head coach Barry Trotz.

Nashville missed the playoffs the past two seasons, so this is a big turnaround for a team that could win the Central Division and the West’s first seed. They’re the first team in their conference to assure themselves of a playoff spot.

(Click here for other clinching scenarios today.)

The Predators best-ever season standings-wise came in 2006-07, when they went 51-23-8 for 110 points. Could this season ultimately top that, though?