Kings' playoff hopes take hit with shootout loss to Predators

Nashville, Kings, and Sharks now tied for second wild-card spot in West

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in shades of blue, green, and silver, conveying the intensity and drama of the game.The Kings' playoff hopes hang in the balance after a heartbreaking shootout loss to the Predators in a critical late-season matchup.Today in Nashville

The Los Angeles Kings rallied from an early two-goal deficit to force overtime against the Nashville Predators, but ultimately fell in an eight-round shootout. The loss leaves the Kings, Predators, and San Jose Sharks tied with 79 points each for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

This was a critical game for the Kings' playoff hopes, as they are now in a three-way tie for the final wild-card spot with just a handful of games remaining in the regular season. The Sharks' win earlier in the night also means the Kings have lost ground in the tight playoff race.

The details

The Predators jumped out to a 3-0 lead early, but the Kings battled back to tie the game at 4-4 by the third period. The game went to a lengthy eight-round shootout, where Nashville's Luke Evangelista scored the decisive goal to give the Predators the win. Kings captain Anze Kopitar was honored before the game for his 20-year NHL career.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Predators scored two goals in the opening minute of the first period.
  • The Kings rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the third period.
  • The game went to an eight-round shootout, which the Predators won.

The players

Luke Evangelista

A Predators forward who scored the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout.

Anze Kopitar

The Kings' longtime captain who was honored before the game for his 20-year NHL career.

Steven Stamkos

A Predators forward who scored his 37th goal of the season.

Juuse Saros

The Predators' goaltender who made 29 saves and was perfect in the eight-round shootout.

Adrian Kempe

A Kings forward who scored two goals, including his 30th of the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a tough loss, but we showed a lot of fight to come back from three goals down. We're still right in the thick of the playoff race, and we'll keep battling to the end.”

— Adrian Kempe, Kings Forward

What’s next

The Kings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, April 5, 2026 in a crucial late-season matchup as they continue to fight for a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Kings' loss to the Predators in a lengthy shootout has left them in a three-way tie for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference, making their remaining games even more crucial as they try to secure a postseason berth.