Predators Blank Ducks to Move into Playoff Position

Nashville goaltender Justus Annunen records first shutout of the season in 5-0 victory

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:33am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the puck represented as abstracted, angular shapes in a palette of navy, green, and red.The Predators' decisive victory over the Ducks keeps their playoff hopes alive in a tightly contested Western Conference race.San Jose Today

The Nashville Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-0 on Tuesday night, with goaltender Justus Annunen recording his first shutout of the season. Erik Haula scored one goal and added an assist to lead the Predators, who jumped into a playoff position with the win.

Why it matters

The victory is a crucial one for the Predators, who are now in a playoff spot in the Western Conference with just a few games remaining in the regular season. The Ducks, meanwhile, have lost six straight games and are now in third place in the Pacific Division.

The details

Annunen made 43 saves for his third career shutout, while Haula, Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zachary L'Heureux, and Fedor Svechkov all scored for the Predators. The Ducks' Lukas Dostal stopped 20 shots in the loss.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Justus Annunen

Nashville Predators goaltender who recorded his first shutout of the season.

Erik Haula

Nashville Predators forward who scored one goal and added one assist in the game.

Lukas Dostal

Anaheim Ducks goaltender who made 20 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us and the guys really stepped up. Justus was outstanding in net and the offense did a great job of capitalizing on our chances.”

— John Hynes, Nashville Predators Head Coach

What’s next

The Predators have four games remaining in the regular season, one fewer than the Los Angeles Kings, who they are battling with for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Ducks, meanwhile, have four games left as they try to catch the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers.

The takeaway

This victory keeps the Predators in the playoff hunt, while the Ducks' losing streak has them slipping in the standings. The race for the final playoff spots in the Western Conference is shaping up to be an exciting finish to the regular season.