Predators eliminated from NHL playoffs after loss to Sharks, Kings win over Kraken
After losing 3-2 to the Sharks on April 13, plus with the LA Kings beating the Kraken, the Predators have been eliminated from the playoffs.
The Nashville Predators' push for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs is officially over. After losing 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on April 13 at Bridgestone Arena, coupled with the Los Angeles Kings beating the Seattle Kraken 5-3 on the same evening, the Predators have been eliminated from playoff contention. Nashville (38-33-10, 86 points) can finish with no more than 88 points this season.
The Kings how have 89 points and can finish no lower than the second wild card in the Western Conference. Elimination comes after a strong late push by the Predators , who battled with multiple teams for the final two wild-card spots the last month of the season. After a 6-3 win over the Sharks on April 4, the Predators held the second wild card briefly, but then lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Kings on April 6.
That gave the Kings the upper hand in the playoff race. Though it's now over, it was quite a push by the Predators to come close to the playoffs. On Nov.
24, they were in last place in the NHL and had no reasonable path to get back in the race. Then they went 32-20-6 their next 58 games, staying alive up until game No. 81.