Annunen makes 43 saves, Predators shut out Ducks

Haula has goal, assist for Nashville; Anaheim has lost 6 straight

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:54am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a hockey game, with players and the puck represented as sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette.A cubist interpretation of the Predators' dominant defensive performance and Annunen's shutout against the struggling Ducks.Los Angeles Today

Goaltender Justus Annunen made 43 saves to record his third career NHL shutout, leading the Nashville Predators to a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Erik Haula scored a goal and added an assist for the Predators, who moved into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with the win.

Why it matters

The Predators' victory over the struggling Ducks was a crucial two points in the tight Western Conference playoff race. Nashville is now in position to clinch a postseason berth, while Anaheim's losing streak has dropped them out of the top two spots in the Pacific Division.

The details

Annunen's shutout was his first in 84 NHL starts, with his last coming in back-to-back 5-0 wins for the Colorado Avalanche in 2024. Haula and linemates Ryan O'Reilly and Joakim Kemell combined for three points, helping Nashville build a 5-0 lead by the midpoint of the third period. The Predators also killed off two lengthy 5-on-3 power plays to preserve the shutout.

  • The game was played on April 7, 2026.
  • Haula's goal came at 7:07 of the second period to give Nashville a 1-0 lead.
  • Forsberg's power-play goal made it 2-0 at 11:26 of the second period.
  • Skjei scored short-handed to make it 3-0 at 19:00 of the second period.
  • L'Heureux extended the lead to 4-0 at 9:51 of the third period.
  • Svechkov's goal made it 5-0 at 15:07 of the third period.

The players

Justus Annunen

The Nashville Predators' goaltender who recorded his third career NHL shutout, making 43 saves in the win.

Erik Haula

A forward for the Nashville Predators who scored a goal and added an assist in the victory.

Lukas Dostal

The Anaheim Ducks' goaltender who made 20 saves in the losing effort.

Ryan O'Reilly

A forward for the Nashville Predators who had two assists in the game.

Joakim Kemell

A forward for the Nashville Predators who had two assists in the victory.

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What’s next

The Predators will look to build on this victory and solidify their playoff position, while the struggling Ducks will try to end their six-game losing streak in their next game.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Predators' strong defensive play and goaltending, which have been key factors in their push for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Ducks' recent struggles have dropped them out of the top two spots in the Pacific Division, putting their postseason hopes in jeopardy.