Why Nashville Predators fans should hope Vegas beats Anaheim in the playoffs
Long time rivals with the Ducks, the Nashville Predators have another reason for hoping the Vegas Golden Knights win their series against Anaheim.
Rooting against the Anaheim Ducks comes natural for Nashville Predators fans. Rivals for well over a decade, Nashville and Anaheim have had several postseason standoffs, starting with the Predators ' first-ever playoff series win in 2011, then peaking with the Predators' memorable Western Conference Final victory in 2017. Now, with the Ducks facing the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs , the Predators have a new reason to hope the Ducks lose.
Why the Predators want the Golden Knights to beat the Ducks Last June, the Predators traded Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon to the Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Hague and a conditional 2027 third-round pick. As part of the condition, that third-round pick becomes a second-round pick if the Golden Knights win at least two rounds in the 2026 playoffs. Vegas already beat the Utah Mammoth in six games to win in the first round.
Now in a tight matchup against Anaheim, the series heads back to Vegas tied 2-2 after the Ducks won Game 4 on May 10. Game 5 is on May 12 (8:30 p. m.
CT) and Game 6 is on May 14 (8:30 p. m. CT).