This is it. The Nashville Predators must win or go home. 

The Preds felt they were the better team for the majority of Game 3, but a called-back goal, defensive lapse and ill-timed penalty put them down in their best-of-five series, 2-1, to the Arizona Coyotes. Viktor Arvidsson scored again and Juuse Saros made 24 saves in the loss on Wednesday.

Following the contest, Nashville Head Coach John Hynes said he would consider making changes to this lineup for the pivotal Game 4. He also declined to announce his starting goaltender for the game. (Game 4 at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday. Watch Game 4 on FOX Sports Tennesse, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game). 

Below is the Predators' projected lineup for Game 4 of the best-of-five series: 

The first elimination game of the postseason has arrived for the Predators.

Game 4 between the Preds and the Arizona Coyotes comes this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. (CT) from Edmonton (Watch: FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game). Facing a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five series, Nashville must win to extend their stay in the bubble.

The Predators are well aware of that fact, of course, and they're embracing the challenge laid out before them. Despite trailing in the series, the group believes they've done plenty of good things, including in a 4-1 loss in Game 3. Now, it's about trusting the process while making small tweaks and improvements to find a victory and force a fifth and deciding contest.

The series is tied following the Predators' 4-2 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday. 

The deadlock won't last long at all, with Nashville and Arizona set to play again on Wednesday afternoon (Watch: FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game). Many of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers are featuring two games in two days, and the Preds and Coyotes' series is no different. 

On Tuesday, Juuse Saros made 24 saves and Ryan Johansen had two points, as the Predators bounced back from a Game 1 loss. The victory was Saros's first-career postseason win.

Following the game, Preds Head Coach John Hynes said he would select his starting goaltender later that evening. Usually, in the regular season, lineup changes are made for back-to-back games, but what the Preds or Coyotes will elect to do remains to be seen. Without travel and both teams going head to head, what's traditionally done may not mean much. 

Below is the Predators' projected lineup for Game 3 of the best-of-5 series: 

Fewer than 24 hours after collecting their first victory of the postseason in Game 2, the Nashville Predators have a chance to take a 2-1 series lead.

They could do just that this afternoon when they take on the Arizona Coyotes this afternoon (1:30 p.m. CT; Watch: FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game) in Game 3 of their best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifier round. After falling by a 4-3 final in Game 1, the Predators rebounded on Tuesday afternoon with a 4-2 triumph of their own over the Coyotes.

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Goaltender Juuse Saros collected his first postseason victory in Game 2, but the big question heading into today's contest is which Preds netminder will get the start in net. Typically, NHL teams will elect to play both of their goaltenders in a back-to-back situation, but Predators Head Coach John Hynes said following Game 2 that decision had not been made just yet, and the team has been pleased with Saros's performance thus far.

The Predators are quickly in must-win territory, as they host the Coyotes for Game 2 of their Stanley Cup Qualifier series in Edmonton. 

Starting today at 1:30 p.m. (CT), Nashville and Arizona will square off in a back-to-back set of afternoon games (Watch: FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network; Listen: 102.5 The Game). The Predators pulled to within a goal in the third period, after falling behind 3-0 in the first, but couldn't find the equalizer in a Game 1 loss.

Goaltender Juuse Saros made his first-career postseason start in Game 1 and made 33 saves. Nashville Head Coach John Hynes has consistently said it's possible both Preds goalies - Saros and Pekka Rinne - could see action in the series, especially with two games in two days. 

Below is the Predators' projected lineup for Game 2 of the best-of-5 series: 

The Nashville Predators will look to even their best-of-five series with the Arizona Coyotes, as the two face off in Game 2 this afternoon (1:30 p.m. CT) from Edmonton. Today's contest is the first half of a back-to-back set between the Preds and Yotes, a pair of days that will prove to be pivotal in this Stanley Cup Qualifier round.

Nashville rallied in the third period of Game 1 on Sunday afternoon, but they weren't able to even the score, as Arizona came away with a 4-3 victory to take a 1-0 series lead. Today, the Preds are intent on playing disciplined hockey, while getting off to a fast start this afternoon.

The Predators and the Coyotes will face off in the first-of-its-kind Stanley Cup Qualifiers series. The first team to three wins will advance to Round 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Nashville won their lone exhibition game on Thursday, a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Both goaltenders Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne combined for the shutout and Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice. Saros started Thursday's game, but Predators Head Coach John Hynes was not ready to tell the media on Saturday who will be his Game 1 starter. 

Hynes said his entire team remains healthy and every player is available to suit up for Sunday's matinee matchup with the Coyotes (at 1 p.m. CT; Watch: FS-TN, USA; Listen: 102.5 The Game). 

Below is the Predators' projected lineup for Game 1 of the best-of-5 series: 

Just about everything surrounding this postseason is different - except for the ultimate goal.

The Nashville Predators meet the Arizona Coyotes this afternoon at 1 p.m. CT in Edmonton for Game 1 of their 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifier series at Rogers Place. Today's contest begins the best-of-five series between the two Western Conference foes, with the Preds entering the qualifying round as the sixth seed, the Coyotes ranking 11th.

Nashville has pushed its postseason streak to six seasons, the longest in franchise history.

The once indefinite wait is over. The Nashville Predators are back on the ice today in an exhibition tilt against the Dallas Stars. 

The afternoon game will take place at 3 p.m. CT and be broadcast on FOX Sports Tennessee, NHL Network and 102.5 The Game. The contest will serve as the lone tune-up matchup for both teams; Nashville starts a best-of-5 series against Arizona on Sunday. 

Preds Head Coach John Hynes said Nashville intends to use 13 forwards and seven defensemen for Thursday's game - a special rule change for the exhibition game. He also mentioned goaltenders Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros will likely both see time in net, although a starter has not been announced. 

Below is a Preds projected lineup based on lines seen frequently in Training Camp. Players most likely to serve as the 13th forward and seventh defensemen are listed as well, although technically, any of the players on the Preds' 30-man roster are available to play. 

Hockey is back - and so are the Preds.

For the first time in more than four months, the Nashville Predators will face off against an opponent, and that meeting comes this afternoon (3 p.m. CT) against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place in Edmonton in a game presented by Fifth Third Bank. The matchup is the first and only exhibition contest for the Preds in Phase 4 of the NHL's Return To Play Plan prior to their Stanley Cup Qualifying Round matchup against Arizona, which begins on Sunday.

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After two weeks of Training Camp Presented by Vanderbilt Health and three more days of practice in Alberta, the Preds are more than ready to compete against another club, and that chance finally comes today.