PREVIEW: Ducks Face Preds with Playoff Positioning on the Line
The Ducks (42-33-6) conclude the 2025-26 common season by heading to Nashville to take on the Predators (38-33-10).
Puck drop is about for five pm PT and can air on KCOP-13 and Victory+.
Playoff seeding is on the line for the Ducks (90 factors) as the workforce has a number of eventualities for who they will face in the first-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs based mostly upon the outcomes of their very own recreation in addition to the outcomes of the Oilers (91 factors) and Kings (90 factors), who play at the identical time.
If the Ducks end up second or third in the Pacific, they are going to play Monday in both Anaheim or Edmonton. If Anaheim ends as the ultimate wild card, it would play Colorado on Sunday.
A extra detailed take a look at the particular eventualities are under.
While the finish of the common season has had its share of ups and downs for Anaheim, the workforce is aware of so much stays at stake for the subsequent part of the season.
Ryan Poehling mentioned the alternative to nonetheless play for residence ice tonight is one thing he and his squad aren’t taking as a right and is aware of the check in opposition to the Preds will likely be an excellent alternative to assemble an entire recreation earlier than the postseason begins.
“I think for us, it’s just being ready,” Poehling mentioned. “We know what’s coming and we have got to get ready for it so I believe simply giving our greatest tonight goes to be huge for us.
“If we end up with Edmonton or we end up with LA, or we end up with Colorado, they’ve got high-end skill. If you don’t play a full 60 minutes, they can make you pay. Even if you play great for 40-50 minutes, that 10 minutes spare there can bite you. So, for us to kind of work on that is the biggest thing.”
The Ducks recalled Tristan Luneau from San Diego on Wednesday and head coach Joel Quenneville mentioned the season he assembled with the Gulls earned him a possibility to rejoin the Ducks.
“I think that organizationally he’s had a couple of games here in the past and had a season where he’s really progressed over the last part of the year,” Quenneville mentioned. “He gets an opportunity. Offensively, he’s got some talent and some ability and we’ll give him a shot.”
DUCKS ROUND 1 PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
The Pacific Division standings will likely be finalized on the final day of the common season as Edmonton (P2; 40-30-11, 91 factors), Anaheim (P3; 42-33-6, 90 factors) and Los Angeles (WC2; 35-26-20, 90 factors), all inside one level of each other, take to the ice.
* Each of the three groups can end in any of three seeds (P2, P3 or WC2) and lock in a collection in opposition to one among their division rivals enjoying Thursday or the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
* Five distinctive matchup units are attainable:
[P2 Edmonton vs P3 Anaheim] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Los Angeles]
[P2 Edmonton vs P3 Los Angeles] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Anaheim]
[P2 Anaheim vs P3 Edmonton] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Los Angeles]
[P2 Anaheim vs P3 Los Angeles] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Edmonton]
[P2 Los Angeles vs P3 Edmonton] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Anaheim]
[P2 Edmonton vs P3 Anaheim] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Los Angeles] will end result:
* If the Oilers get no less than one level vs. the Canucks AND if the Ducks defeat the Predators in any style
OR
* If the Predators defeat the Ducks in additional time or shootout AND if the Flames defeat the Kings in any style
OR
* If the Predators defeat the Ducks in regulation AND if the Flames defeat the Kings in regulation
[P2 Edmonton vs P3 Los Angeles] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Anaheim] will end result:
* If the Oilers get no less than one level vs. the Canucks AND if the Kings defeat the Flames in any style AND if the Predators defeat the Ducks in any style
OR
* If the Oilers get no less than one level vs. the Canucks AND if the Kings get no less than one level vs. the Flames AND if the Predators defeat the Ducks in regulation
OR
* If the Flames defeat the Kings in additional time or shootout AND if the Predators defeat the Ducks in regulation
[P2 Anaheim vs P3 Edmonton] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Los Angeles] will end result:
* If the Ducks defeat the Predators in any style AND if the Canucks defeat the Oilers in regulation AND if the Flames defeat the Kings in any style
[P2 Anaheim vs P3 Los Angeles] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Edmonton] will end result:
* If the Ducks defeat the Predators in any style AND if the Canucks defeat the Oilers in regulation AND if the Kings defeat the Flames in any style
[P2 Los Angeles vs P3 Edmonton] and [C1 Colorado vs WC2 Anaheim] will end result:
* If the Kings defeat the Flames in any style AND the if Canucks defeat the Oilers in regulation AND if the Predators defeat the Ducks in any style
