Ducks beat Predators 5-4 to clinch the Pacific’s third seed
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Troy Terry scored on a power play with 2:54 left, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Thursday night helping them clinch the third seed in the Pacific Division for the postseason. The Ducks came into the regular-season finale third in the Pacific with five different scenarios still possible to lock down the final playoff matchups This win, combined with Edmonton beating visiting Vancouver, means Anaheim starts the first round Monday at Edmonton.
Anaheim also took the season series against Nashville 2-1, though the Ducks go into the postseason 2-6-2 over their final 10. Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Alex Killorn and Tristan Luneau scored for Anaheim. Mikael Granlund had three assists.
Steven Stamkos scored twice and had an assist for Nashville, giving him 42 goals this season. Filip Forsberg scored two goals, giving him 40, and the Predators a pair of 40-goal scorers. Luke Evangelista and Ryan Ufko added two assists apiece.
BLUES 5, MAMMOTH 3 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Logan Mailloux scored the go-ahead goal with 2:57 left to play and Robert Thomas had a hat trick as St. Louis beat Utah in the regular-season finale for both teams. Mailloux scored unassisted on a backhand shot from 20 feet out to make it 4-3 in a back-and-forth game.
Thomas’ third goal, an empty-netter with 38 seconds left, capped the scoring. Pavel Buchnevich had the other goal for St. Louis and Joel Hofer made 20 saves.