In a dramatic regular-season finale, the Anaheim Ducks secured their playoff position with a nail-biting 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. The win, sealed by Troy Terry's clutch power-play goal with just under three minutes remaining, officially clinched the third seed in the Pacific Division for the Ducks.

Heading into the final night, the playoff picture was still fluid, but Anaheim's triumph, combined with the Edmonton Oilers' win over Vancouver, solidified the first-round matchup. The Ducks will now open their postseason campaign on the road, facing the Oilers starting Monday.

While the Ducks won the season series against Nashville 2-1, they will look to reverse a concerning late-season trend as they enter the playoffs with a 2-6-2 record over their final ten games. The victory was a full team effort, with goals from Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Alex Killorn, and Tristan Luneau, while Mikael Granlund contributed three assists.

The Predators, despite the loss, showcased their offensive firepower. Steven Stamkos scored twice, reaching 42 goals for the season, and Filip Forsberg netted two of his own to hit the 40-goal mark, making Nashville one of the few teams with a pair of 40-goal scorers this year.

In other action, the St. Louis Blues closed their season with a thrilling 5-3 win over Utah, fueled by Robert Thomas's hat trick and a late go-ahead goal from Logan Mailloux. Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini made franchise history for the San Jose Sharks. With a goal and two assists, the 19-year-old phenom broke Joe Thornton's single-season points record, finishing his remarkable second year with 115 points.