CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    Ducks edge Predators in finale, will face Edmonton in 1st-round playoff series
    • April 17, 2026

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Next stop: Edmonton.

    Troy Terry scored on a power play with 2:54 left, and the Ducks rallied to beat the Nashville Predators, 5-4, on Thursday night, finishing as the third seed in the Pacific Division as they prepare for their first playoff appearance since 2018.

    The Ducks came into the regular-season finale third in the Pacific with five different scenarios still possible to determine the final playoff positions. Their win, combined with Edmonton’s 6-1 rout of Vancouver, means the Ducks will face the Oilers in a best-of-seven first-round series that will begin Monday night in Edmonton.

    The Ducks also took the season series against Nashville 2-1, though the Ducks go into the postseason 2-6-2 over their final 10.

    Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Alex Killorn and Tristan Luneau also scored for the Ducks. Mikael Granlund had three assists.

    Steven Stamkos scored twice and had an assist for Nashville, giving him 42 goals this season. Filip Forsberg scored two goals, giving him 40, and the Predators a pair of 40-goal scorers. Luke Evangelista and Ryan Ufko added two assists apiece.

    Gauthier scored 96 seconds into the game to put the Ducks ahead with a snap shot for his 41st of the season.

    The Predators, eliminated from contention Monday night, answered with Stamkos scoring his 41st midway through the first off an assist from rookie Cole O’Hara, making his NHL debut.

    Forsberg scored on a tip-in on the man advantage at 15:54 for a 2-1 lead. LaCombe’s shot from near the blue line got through traffic tying it at 2-2 with 20.8 seconds left in the first.

    Killorn’s slap shot gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead at 4:33 of the second. Forsberg tied it at 14:37 with a shot from the slot, then Stamkos gave Nashville a 4-3 lead with a wrister just outside the left crease on the power play.

    Luneau tied it at 4:17 of the third, scoring off the rebound of Granlund’s shot.

    More to come on this story.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    News