The Predators are officially on their way to another run at the Stanley Cup. Nashville became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff berth Friday, doing so in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The League-leading are the first team to clinch a berth in the 2018 Playoffs, their fourth consecutive postseason appearance and 11th in franchise history. NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) Colton Si sons scored twice and Juuse Saros made 33 saves to lead the NHLs hottest team to its 13th win in its last 14 Chase Shugart Jersey games. The Predators (47-14-10) have used that hot streak to climb up the NHL standings and now lead the league with 104 points. They have opened a 10-point advantage in the Central Division over secondplace Winnipeg and sit four points above the Eastern Conference leading Lightning with 11 games to play. Tampa has a game in hand on Nashville, but is no longer the favorite to win the Presidents' Trophy after leading the race for the NHLs best record most of the season. MORE: The Lightning were the leagues hottest team at the beginning of the year, winning 15 of their first 19 games (15-2-2) and looked to be Stanley Cup favorites before hitting a rough patch in January, which prompted general manager Steve Yzerman to be aggre sive at the trade deadline. for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Millerhas helped steady the ship a little, as Tampa has won nine out of its last 11, but not enough to hold off the Predators. If they can keep it up, thiscould be a historic season forNashville, whichhas never won a division title in franchise history, let alone a Presidents' Trophy. The Predators are peaking at the right time and arefinally rounding into the Stanley Cup contender many expected them to be at the beginning of the year after returningthe majority of aroster that fell two games short of hockeys biggest prize last season. Last year, the had 14 playoff wins. This year, theyre hoping for 16. NHL (@NHL) Nashville isback in the postseason for the fourth year in a row, but that may just be the beginning of whatthis team accomplishes. Connor Wong Jersey