Predators 3 Canucks 2 (NHL)

Nashville pulled back into the lead in the Central Division at home, last night.

Vancouver held a 2-0 lead after 1 period, their scoring coming on 2 power play goals.

37 seconds into the 2nd, Jacob Markstrom fumbled a Colt Sissons shot into his goal making the score 2-1, where it would remain until 4:20 to go in the game. Ryan Ellis made a shot at the blue line. Austin Watson tipped the rebound and Nick Bonino sank it to tie the score at 2. Then, with 21 seconds left, Ryan Johansen attempted a pass to Victor Arvidsson, but it deflected off the stick of Canuck Troy Stecher and in for the game winner.

Nashville, Winnipeg, and St. Louis all have played 81 games. Everything gets decided tomorrow night.

If Nashville beats Chicago at home, it does not matter what Winnipeg or St. Louis does. Nashville will win the Central, have home ice in the first round of the playoffs, and play either Dallas or Colorado.

The same happens if all 3 teams lose.

If Nashville loses, Winnipeg wins, and St. Louis wins, the Jets win the Central by way of the first tie breaker, the Blues finish in second, and Nashville falls to 3rd. St. Louis and Nashville will play in the 1st round with the Blues having home ice.

If Nashville loses, Winnipeg loses, and St. Louis wins, the Blues win the Central, the Preds finish second, and the Jets finish 3rd. Nashville and Winnipeg would play in the first round with Nashville having home ice.

If Nashville loses, St. Louis loses, and Winnipeg wins, the Jets win the Central, Nashville would finish second, and the Blues 3rd. Nashville and St. Louis would play in the first round with Nashville having home ice.

Now, if Nashville ends up with an overtime/shootout loss, things get complicated. There are a myriad of scenarios that can happen, then. I don't even want to venture into figuring those out.

Vancouver is playing in St. Louis at 4 pm eastern time. The Blackhawk/Predator game is at 8 eastern and Winnipeg is at Arizona with the puck drop at 10 eastern time.

Heckuva finish to this game. Crazy sequence of events which led to the game winner. It's amazing to me that with one game left, so many possibilities are on the table for the super tight Central race. Tomorrow night will be must see TV for me.