How the Nashville Predators made their playoff path more difficult with loss to Pittsburgh

The Nashville Predators missed an opportunity to clinch the top wild card spot on Monday, and now may have a tougher road through the playoffs.

The Predators lost their final game of the regular season, falling 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena, where the Penguins were the more desperate team throughout. Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Penguins scored two goals in the first period and twice answered goals by Nashville.

While Nashville has already clinched a playoff spot, the loss leaves open the possibility the Predators fall to the second wild card spot to finish the season.

Nashville Predators could fall to second wild card spot

Entering Monday, the Predators needed at least one point to secure the first wild card spot. Vegas is three points behind Nashville in the wild card standings, but has two more games to play.

Now that the Predators' regular season is done, they need the Golden Knights to drop at least one point against either the Chicago Blackhawks or Anaheim Ducks. There's also a scenario where the Los Angeles Kings lose to Chicago or Minnesota, allowing Vegas to jump into third in the Pacific. If that happens, the Predators would earn the first wild card spot over the Kings.

All this means is we still do not know who Nashville will play in the first round.

Over the weekend, it looked all but certain they would play Vancouver in the first round. Now the scenario shifts to a near even split between playing Vancouver and Dallas.

Finishing in the first wild card spot means a far greater chance of playing Vancouver in the first round, while finishing in the second wild card spot likely means playing Dallas.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: How the Nashville Predators evolved from rebuilding afterthought to playoff-bound menace

The Canucks have been on top of the Pacific Division all season, but questions about the health of their goaltender suggest a better matchup for the Predators. The Stars have been the best team in the Western Conference the second half of this season and show no signs of slowing down.

The Golden Knights host the Blackhawks on Tuesday, then play their regular season finale on Thursday against the Ducks. Since both games are late starts, Predators fans might not know who the team plays in the first round until early Friday morning.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators' lose to Penguins, chance to clinch top wild card