Kings Edge Predators in Shootout Thriller

LA Kings move into sole possession of final playoff spot in the West with 3-2 victory over Nashville

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:38am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in blue, gold, and crimson, conceptually representing the fast-paced action and high-intensity moments of a close hockey game.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth action between the Kings and Predators, capturing the high-stakes drama of their playoff push clash.Los Angeles Today

The LA Kings skated to a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena, moving into sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Forward Joel Armia opened the scoring for the Kings, but the Predators tied it up with a power-play goal from Steven Stamkos. Jared Wright put the Kings back on top in the second period, but Roman Josi evened the score in the third. After a scoreless overtime, Adrian Kempe scored the only goal in the shootout to secure the win for LA.

Why it matters

The Kings' victory over the Predators was a crucial result in the tight Western Conference playoff race. With just five games remaining, the win moves LA into sole possession of the second wild card spot, putting them in prime position to clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2018.

The details

Armia opened the scoring for the Kings early in the first period, forcing a turnover and scoring on the rebound. Stamkos tied it up on the power play in the second, but Wright restored the Kings' lead later in the period with a nifty setup from Scott Laughton. Josi knotted the score at 2-2 in the third, setting up the dramatic overtime and shootout. Kempe scored the lone goal in the shootout, and Anton Forsberg made all three saves to earn the victory.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 6, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
  • The Kings and Predators have now played three shootout games against each other this season.

The players

Joel Armia

A 32-year-old forward for the LA Kings who opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season.

Steven Stamkos

The Predators' star forward who scored his 39th goal of the season on the power play to tie the game.

Jared Wright

A speedy Kings forward who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, his fourth career NHL assist.

Roman Josi

The Predators' captain who scored the game-tying goal in the third period, his 13th of the season.

Adrian Kempe

The Kings' forward who scored the only goal in the shootout, his 22nd career shootout tally.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, it's not really any different. I kind of like shootouts, it's 1-on-1. Obviously, it sucks when you lose on that, like, it's not the game obviously, but I feel confident going in there and it turned out the right way tonight.”

— Jared Wright, Kings Forward

“I thought Q's line was great, right from the get go. In the first period, they went in, they got some cycle shifts, I think it was their first shift, they hemmed them in and they just set the tone for us. Laughton's line, obviously, was outstanding tonight and then they kind of did that to us in the second period.”

— D.J. Smith, Kings Interim Head Coach

What’s next

The Kings will look to build on this crucial victory as they continue their playoff push, with five games remaining in the regular season. Their next game is on Thursday, April 9 against the Seattle Kraken.

The takeaway

The Kings' hard-fought victory over the Predators in a pressure-packed shootout showcases the team's resolve and determination as they make a late-season push for the playoffs. With key contributions from players like Armia, Wright, and Kempe, LA is proving it has the depth and resilience to overcome tough opponents and clinch a postseason berth.