Ducks Aim for Playoff Positioning in Regular-Season Finale vs. Predators

Anaheim can finish anywhere from second in the Pacific Division to the second Western Conference wild-card spot in the final game of the season.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:27am

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A vibrant, cubist-inspired illustration depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game, with players and the puck fragmented into geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the high-stakes tension of the Ducks' playoff positioning battle.As the regular season comes to a close, the Ducks and Predators face off in a pivotal game that could shape the playoff landscape in the Western Conference.San Jose Today

The Anaheim Ducks still have a lot to play for in their regular-season finale against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Depending on the results of other games, the Ducks could finish anywhere from second in the Pacific Division to the second Western Conference wild-card spot. A win against the Predators, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, would be crucial for the Ducks' postseason positioning.

Why it matters

The Ducks have struggled down the stretch, going 1-6-2 in their last nine games, and need a win to potentially earn home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The game has major implications for Anaheim's playoff seeding, as they are tied in points with the Los Angeles Kings and one point behind the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division.

The details

The Ducks (42-33-6, 90 points) are tied with the Kings (35-26-20, 90 points) for the third spot in the Pacific Division, while the Oilers (40-30-11, 91 points) sit in second. Edmonton owns the tiebreaker over both Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Ducks need a win against the Predators and help from other results to potentially leapfrog the Oilers for second place in the division and home-ice advantage in the first round. If the Ducks lose and the Oilers and Kings win, Anaheim would drop into the second wild-card spot and face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.

  • The Ducks-Predators game is scheduled for Thursday evening.
  • The Oilers-Canucks and Kings-Flames games are scheduled to start an hour after the Ducks-Predators matchup.

The players

Anaheim Ducks

An NHL team that is currently tied for third in the Pacific Division and fighting for playoff positioning in the final game of the regular season.

Nashville Predators

An NHL team that has been eliminated from playoff contention but will host the Ducks in the regular-season finale.

Edmonton Oilers

An NHL team that currently sits in second place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Ducks and Kings.

Los Angeles Kings

An NHL team that is tied with the Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division.

Ryan Poehling

A forward for the Anaheim Ducks.

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What they’re saying

“Regardless of where we end up, it's playoff hockey. Anything can happen, and for us to just be on top of our game and just kind of take care of what we can I think is the biggest thing. So, we've got one more (game) to kind of go through a rehearsal and then real hockey starts.”

— Ryan Poehling, Ducks forward

“Came here with playoff aspirations, right? So, we failed the last two years and that's what's so hard.”

— Steven Stamkos, Predators forward

“Someone could come here and say we want to complete tear down and rebuild and that's the way it's going to go. We could have someone come in here and say, 'Listen, you guys were close this year. We believe in the older guys and the core of this team and we want to help build that with bringing in even more younger guys and impact players.' I think that's the route we all hope for, but there are too many unknowns right now with regards to the future of the team.”

— Steven Stamkos, Predators forward

What’s next

The Ducks' playoff positioning will be determined by the results of their game against the Predators, as well as the outcomes of the Oilers-Canucks and Kings-Flames games. A win for Anaheim, coupled with losses by Edmonton and Los Angeles, would secure the Ducks the second spot in the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Ducks' regular-season finale against the Predators has major implications for their playoff positioning. A win would be crucial for Anaheim to potentially earn home-ice advantage in the first round, but they'll also need help from other results around the league to move up in the standings. The game represents one final 'rehearsal' before the real intensity of the postseason begins.