Celebrini scores twice as Sharks beat Predators, keep playoff hopes alive

San Jose snaps 3-game losing streak, remains in hunt for second wild-card spot in Western Conference

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:40am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the rink deconstructed into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the intensity and uncertainty of the Sharks' playoff push.The Sharks' hard-fought victory over the Predators keeps their faint playoff hopes alive, but the road ahead remains treacherous.San Jose Today

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Monday, with Macklin Celebrini scoring two goals in the third period to lead the team to victory. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Sharks and kept their slim playoff hopes alive, as they remain tied for 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

Why it matters

The Sharks' playoff chances were dwindling heading into Monday's game, as they had lost four of their last five and trailed the Los Angeles Kings by five points for the second wild-card spot. This win over the Predators, who had dominated the Sharks in recent matchups, gives San Jose a glimmer of hope to make the postseason for the first time since 2019.

The details

Igor Chernyshov opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, but the Predators tied it in the second. Celebrini then scored twice in the third period to give the Sharks the lead, and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves to preserve the victory. The Sharks were boosted by the recall of defenseman Luca Cagnoni from the AHL, and he played on the third pair and the top power-play unit.

  • The Sharks beat the Predators 3-2 on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The Sharks had lost their last 15 games against the Predators dating back to November 2019.

The players

Macklin Celebrini

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who scored two goals in the third period to lead his team to victory.

Igor Chernyshov

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who scored a power-play goal in the first period.

Alex Nedeljkovic

The goaltender for the San Jose Sharks who made 25 saves to preserve the win.

Luca Cagnoni

A defenseman for the San Jose Sharks who was recalled from the AHL and played on the third pair and top power-play unit.

Justus Annunen

The goaltender for the Nashville Predators.

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What they’re saying

“'I feel like we had a really good team with the 'Cuda down there. We've been pretty strong throughout the year. Individually, just trying to find that balance of being really good offensively and defensively.'”

— Luca Cagnoni, Sharks defenseman

What’s next

The Sharks will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday as they continue their three-game road trip. Their playoff hopes remain tenuous, as they are tied for 10th in the Western Conference and trail the Los Angeles Kings by five points for the second wild-card spot with three games left.

The takeaway

This win over the Predators, who had dominated the Sharks in recent matchups, gives San Jose a glimmer of hope to make the postseason for the first time since 2019. However, their playoff chances remain slim, and they will need to continue winning to have a chance at securing a wild-card spot.