The party is over in the Music City as the Nashville Predators lost 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks, in turn eliminating them from contention in the 2026 NHL Playoffs. It is the second-straight year the team missed the postseason, this year only by a slim margin.
"It's tough. It just wasn't our best game," captain Roman Josi said. "We just felt like we couldn't find that urgency and we couldn't get to our game. Now you got to look at the scoreboard in the other games and hope for a miracle. "Nashville Predators YT
The Predators never saw that miracle. The second condition to keep their playoff dreams alive was in the Pacific Division, where the Los Angeles Kings took on the Seattle Kraken. If the Kings lost, the Predators would remain in the conversation. Unfortunately for the Preds, LA prevented a late-game comeback and won 5-3, eliminating the Preds in the process.
"We got what we deserve," center Ryan O'Reilly said. "Just didn't start the way we needed and got down and couldn't find a way back. Not going to win if you don't score."Nashville Predators YT
Winger Luke Evangelista scored both of Nashville's goals late in the third period with defenseman Ryan Ufko tallying an assist on both of them. Justus Annunen made 20 stops on 22 shot attempts in the loss.
The first period saw no goals scored by either side. San Jose carried puck possession in the period, outshooting Nashville 11-6. It is the fourth game in their last five that the Preds were outshot in the opening frame.
The Sharks continued momentum into the middle stanza, with Igor Chernyshov sniping one on the power play near the halfway mark.
Macklin Celebrini extended the lead 3:04 into the third after receiving a feed from Chernyshov, snapping it past Annunen. Evangelista broke the deficit in half with a goal on a breakaway with 4:21 to go in the game. Celebrini took away any hope Nashville had left, potting an empty netter to make it 3-1. Evangelista tipped his second with just over a minute left in play, but it was not enough to secure the comeback.
"We've had our backs against the wall. That's what we've done all year," Evangelista said. "We've been in that position, that's just how we battle. We never quit, just didn't go our way."Nashville Predators YT
"I think everything we went through as a group, put ourselves in position to play this game tonight, you're disappointed that we didn't get the result. We didn't get to our game fast enough and we played the margins late."Nashville Predators YT
With the postseason out of the question, nerves aren't as high for Nashville as they wrap up the season at home versus the Anaheim Ducks Thursday evening. Annunen lead the Preds to a 5-0 shutout against the Ducks in their last matchup. The team has the opportunity to end the season on a good note, setting positive vibes heading into the offseason.
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