Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM PDT
Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
TV/Streaming: FDSNSO (Predators regional), Victory+ and KCOP-13 (Ducks local), ESPN+ (national/stream)
Coaches: Andrew Brunette (Predators) vs. Joel Quenneville (Ducks) This late-season Western Conference matchup pits two bubble/playoff-hopeful teams against each other in a game with significant implications for postseason positioning. The Ducks sit with 87 points (strong in the Pacific Division), while the Predators have 81 points (5th in the Central). Both clubs have struggled defensively of late, but Nashville enters hotter.
Team Records & Standings Context
Nashville Predators: 36-31-9 (81 points). They rank 19th in goals per game (2.97) but 27th in goals against (3.32). Special teams are a strength: 22.5% power play (18th) and 81.7% penalty kill (8th). Faceoff win rate sits at 50.6% (14th).
Anaheim Ducks: 41-31-5 (87 points). They score at a solid 3.23 goals per game (13th) but allow 3.52 (29th league-worst). Power play is middling at 18% (23rd), penalty kill poor at 77.3% (24th), and faceoffs weak at 47.6% (26th).
Recent Form (Last 10 Games / Last 5)
Predators: 7-3-0 in last 10; last 5 results include W 6-3 vs. San Jose (April ~6), SO W 5-4 vs. Los Angeles (April ~3/5), L vs. Tampa Bay, L vs. Montreal, L vs. New Jersey. Nashville has tightened up its playoff push with strong goaltending and timely scoring from its veteran core.
Ducks: 4-4-2 in last 10 but riding a rough 4-5 game losing skid (L vs. Calgary 3-5 on April 4, L vs. St. Louis 2-6 on April 3, L vs. San Jose 3-4 on April 1, OT L vs. Toronto, L vs. Edmonton). Anaheim’s offense has dried up amid injuries and defensive lapses.
Injury Report
Nashville Predators:
D Nicolas Hague: Upper body (day-to-day / OUT for recent games; questionable or expected return around April 7). Impacts blue-line depth.
Anaheim Ducks (significant concerns):
LW Cutter Gauthier (team leader, ~38G-65P): Upper body (day-to-day; missed multiple recent games including vs. Flames, Sharks, Blues — questionable at best).
D Pavel Mintyukov: Lower body (day-to-day).
D Radko Gudas: Lower body (day-to-day).
C Jansen Harkins: Upper body/hand surgery (OUT ~4 weeks).
G Petr Mrazek: Lower body/hip surgery (OUT for season).
Ducks’ defense and top-line scoring are banged up, which could open opportunities for Nashville’s forwards.
Key Player Matchups
Filip Forsberg (NSH, 37G-34A-71P in 76 GP) vs. Anaheim’s depleted D corps: Forsberg’s speed and finishing could exploit gaps left by questionable Mintyukov/Gudas.
Steven Stamkos (NSH, 38G-22A-60P) & Ryan O’Reilly (NSH, 25G-44A-69P) vs. Ducks’ bottom-six and faceoff weaknesses: Veteran center depth gives Nashville an edge in puck battles and secondary scoring.
Roman Josi (NSH D, 12G-39A-51P) vs. Anaheim’s transition game: Josi’s offensive instincts could generate chances on the rush or power play.
Goaltending: Juuse Saros (NSH: 28-20-7, 3.14 GAA, .894 SV%) is the more reliable option lately. Anaheim’s netminding (likely Lukas Dostal or backup) faces pressure from Nashville’s hot streak.
Ducks counters: If Gauthier plays, his scoring punch pairs with players like Mason McTavish; otherwise, Anaheim leans on depth forwards and home-ice energy.
Series History
2025-26 Season: Anaheim leads 1-0 (5-2 Ducks win on Oct. 21, 2025, at Nashville).
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Last 10 Games Overall: Predators are 4-6-0 vs. Ducks.
All-Time: Ducks hold a slight historical edge (~55-49-2-2 in various records), but Nashville has been competitive in recent seasons. Ducks have won the last few encounters in some stretches.
Betting Trends
Overs have hit sparingly in Ducks’ recent games (1 of last 5).
Key Trends:
Ducks: Mixed ATS recently (3-2 last 5 in some reports); home favorites but on skid; totals lean under in low-scoring losses.
Predators: Stronger recent form (7-3-0); road underdogs have covered in spots; better special teams could lead to power-play goals.
Head-to-head: Games have been somewhat high-scoring in recent history, but Anaheim’s current defensive injuries may push totals higher.
Game Odds
Nashville Predators 6.5
Anaheim Ducks – 155
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, April 6, 2026
