Sharks Stun Predators in Playoff Push Upset

Macklin Celebrini's heroics lead San Jose to crucial road win over Nashville.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:10pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the intense action of a hockey game between the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, with the players and puck represented as angular, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette.In a crucial late-season showdown, the San Jose Sharks' star forward Macklin Celebrini led his team to a stunning upset over the playoff-chasing Nashville Predators.San Jose Today

The San Jose Sharks (37-34-8) pulled off a surprise 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators (38-32-10) in a crucial late-season NHL matchup. Led by star forward Macklin Celebrini's two-goal performance, the Sharks overcame a shaky goaltending effort to hand the Predators a damaging loss in their playoff chase.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Sharks' faint playoff hopes alive, while the Predators missed a golden opportunity to jump into a wild card spot with just one game remaining. Celebrini's continued dominance has made him an MVP candidate, but the Sharks' inconsistent goaltending remains a concern as they try to play spoiler down the stretch.

The details

Despite being heavy underdogs, the Sharks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Celebrini and Tomas Hertl. The Predators battled back to tie it in the second, but Celebrini restored the Sharks' lead with his second of the night. Nashville tied it again in the third, but Evgeny Svechnikov's late goal proved to be the game-winner for San Jose.

  • The game was played on April 13, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
  • The Sharks entered the game eliminated from playoff contention, while the Predators were fighting for a wild card spot with one game left.

The players

Macklin Celebrini

A 22-year-old forward for the San Jose Sharks who is having a historic 110-point season and is an MVP candidate.

Juuse Saros

The veteran starting goaltender for the Nashville Predators, who has been solid down the stretch with a .902 save percentage over his last 10 games.

Yaroslav Askarov

The young starting goaltender for the San Jose Sharks, who has struggled recently with an .865 save percentage and a -6.7 goals saved above expected.

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What they’re saying

“Macklin is just an unbelievable talent. When he's on his game, he can take over a game by himself.”

— David Quinn, Head Coach, San Jose Sharks

“This is a tough one to swallow. We had our chances but just couldn't capitalize when we needed to the most.”

— John Hynes, Head Coach, Nashville Predators

What’s next

The Predators' playoff hopes now rest on the outcome of the Kraken-Kings game later tonight. If the Kraken win in regulation, the Predators will jump into a wild card spot with one game left. The Sharks are officially eliminated from playoff contention, but will look to play spoiler in their final game of the season.

The takeaway

Despite their struggles this season, the Sharks proved they can still compete with the league's best when Macklin Celebrini is at his best. However, the team's inconsistent goaltending remains a major concern as they look to the offseason. For the Predators, this loss is a devastating blow to their playoff aspirations and puts immense pressure on their final game of the season.