Forsberg, Saros, playoffs: How are Nashville Predators preseason predictions holding up?

The Nashville Predators are halfway there — 41 games down, 41 to go this regular season.

But the question remains: Halfway where, exactly?

That remains to be seen and remains difficult to predict with this team, which began the season 5-10. Which has two four-game losing streaks, a four-game winning streak and a six-game winning streak.

Before the first game, I made five bold predictions about how this season would go for the Predators.

So how am I doing?

Preseason prediction: Predators will make the playoffs

The team with first-year coach Andrew Brunette and (technically) first-year general manager Barry Trotz was not supposed to be in the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference at this point in the season.

Yet there it is with its 22-18-1 record Thursday, a day before it began the second half of its schedule in Dallas.

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But there are two teams neck-and-neck with the Predators going into Friday's games — the Edmonton Oilers and Seattle Kraken, who are on nine- and eight-game winning streaks, respectively.

This and that: While they are on track to make that happen, the reasons I stated don't line up. I mentioned Juuse Saros and Roman Josi as being the main reasons they will make the playoffs. But Saros, especially, has had his struggles this season.

Midseason prediction: Saros will return to form and the Predators will make the playoffs in the second wild-card spot.

Preseason prediction: Juuse Saros will win the Vezina Trophy

The two-time All-Star and a Vezina Trophy finalist in the 2021-22 season (he was fourth last season and sixth in 2020-21) has been — well, not playing to that caliber, save for a few stretches here and there.

He was pulled from five of his 32 starts through 41 games. He allowed at least four goals in 11 games, including six once and five six times. What's more troubling is he had allowed five goals in four of five starts going into the halfway point.

This and that: His 3.09 goals-against average is by far his career worst. Same for his .899 save percentage (previous low is .914).

Midseason prediction: Can't win 'em all, I guess. No Vezina this season for Saros.

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Preseason prediction: Ryan O'Reilly will score 25 goals

One of the best free-agent signings of the season, Ryan O'Reilly has 15 goals and is on track to exceed his 14-year career high of 28, the only time he surpassed 25.

O'Reilly also has 20 assists and has been a big reason why his linemates, Gustav Nyquist and Filip Forsberg, are on track for career years. His 10 power-play goals are best on the team and tied for third in the NHL.

This and that: Among the three of them, Forsberg, O'Reilly and Nyquist have combined for a 46-67-113 line through 41 games.

Midseason prediction: Slam dunk yes.

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Preseason prediction: Filip Forsberg will score 50 goals

Aside from picking the Predators to make the playoffs, this was probably the second-boldest prediction, considering his career high is 42.

Forsberg is on pace to tie that high with 21 goals through 41 games. Question is, can the 2023-24 All-Star score even more?

This and that: The goals are impressive, sure. More so is the number of assists so far: 24. Double that and he'd be at 48, nine more than his career best.

Midseason prediction: Barring injuries that have plagued him in past seasons, I say Forsberg gets there and smashes Matt Duchene's single-season record of 43.

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Preseason prediction: The Predators will win a playoff series

They haven't since 2018, when they won the Presidents' Trophy. Their playoff streak ended at eight last season.

Like I said in the preseason, if they're going to make it, they might as well win something.

This and that: Nashville is due for a playoff series win. It has enough veterans who know how to win, an all-world defenseman, an All-Star forward, a goalie who should do nothing but get better, and some young, hungry players who don't know any better.

Midseason prediction: Sticking by my preseason prediction because, why not? Wouldn't be bold if it was expected.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Looking back at our preseason predictions for the Nashville Predators