This mathcup featured two teams in similar situations, with both the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning coming up short of expectations so far. Someone had to come out of this with the win, and Tampa Bay ended up prevailing.
The Predators would put up a good defensive effort for much of the game, and clawed their way back into it late in the third period to force overtime. They salvaged a point, but that’s not really good enough anymore as the Predators are trying to make up ground in the Central Division after going 4-7-1 in November.