"[...] it was a goal to get back in the playoffs," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said after a 5-2 loss to Calgary on Sunday. Making the playoffs was the first postseason goal for the Predators, who fired coach Barry Trotz a year ago when he missed out for a second straight season. Finishing first in the Western Conference is another goal for a franchise that has never ended up higher than fourth in its 15 previous seasons. Home-ice through the Western playoffs also is a challenge with the Predators three points behind league-leading Anaheim, though Nashville has a game in hand on the Ducks. The Predators can work to sharpen a power play that ranks 26th in the league and take advantage of the chance to heal up over the final two weeks of the regular season. Left wing James Neal has missed eight games with an upper-body injury, and he was tied for the team lead with 22 goals when he last played.