The Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke, left, lines up a shot on goal as the Nashville Predators’ Brady Skjei defends during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators’ Jonathan Marchessault, left, controls the puck during the first period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen, left, makes a save against Ducks left wing Jeffrey Viel (28) during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry (19) takes a shot on goal during the first period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators’ Justin Barron takes a shot on goal during the first period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) makes a save on a shot by Ducks center Ryan Poehling (25) during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe controls the puck during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks center Mikael Granlund (64) fails to score against Nashville Predators’ goaltender Justus Annunen, left, during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Ducks’ John Carlson (74) accidentally slides into goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) while the Nashville Predators’ Joakim Kemell (25) controls the puck during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, left, brings the puck across the blue line as Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (90) defends during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Nashville Predators’ Steven Stamkos, left, brings the puck up the ice during the first period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks and Nashville Predators players get into a scuffle behind the goal on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks left wing Alex Killom (17) battles Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (83) and defenseman Ryan Ufko (85) during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Perbix, left, and Ducks defenseman Owen Zellweger vie for the puck during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Ducks’ Troy Terry, left, takes a shot on goal during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Alex Killorn, left, collides with the Nashville Predators’ Tyson Jost during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe (2) takes a shot on goal during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators’ Justin Barron, right, and Filip Forsberg (9) battle the Ducks’ Ryan Poehling (25) for a loose puck during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Nashville Predators’ Nick Perbix takes a shot on goal during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Mikael Granlund, left, battles the Nashville Predators’ Brady Skjei for a loose puck during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Mikael Granlund (64) takes a shot on goal as the Nashville Predators’ Brady Skjei, left, defends during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators’ Brady Skjei shoots and scores to give his team a 3-0 lead during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei (76) shoots and scores a short-handed goal during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei (76) celebrates after scoring a short-handed goal during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly, left, celebrates a goal by Brady Skjei, right, during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nashville Predators players celebrate after a goal by Brady Skjei (76) for a 3-0 lead during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke looks on during the second period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger, left, battles the Nashville Predators’ Adam Wilsby for a loose puck during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Chris Kreider (20) sees his shot on goal deflected by Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen, left, during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. The Ducks lost their sixtj straight game, 5-0. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen makes a glove save during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, right, and Ducks center Mason McTavish vie for the puck during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, reaches for the puck against Nashville Predators’ center Ryan O’Reilly (90) during the second period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
The Nashville Predators’ Erik Haula (56) is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Olen Zellweger controls the puck during the third period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke (45) of the Ducks controls the puck during the third period of a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Ryan Poehling, right, controls the puck in front of the Nashville Predators’ Joakim Kemell during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ John Carlson looks on during the third period of a 5-0 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Nashville Predators’ Jonathan Marchessault, left, pushes the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov, right, and Jacob Trouba, left, battle the Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly for a loose puck during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe, left, controls the puck as the Nashville Predators’ Tyson Jost (17) chases after him during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer, left, and Ducks defenseman Owen Zellweger vie for the puck during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L’Heureux (68) celebrates his goal with defenseman Ryan Ufko (85) during the third period of a game against the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Ducks center Leo Carlsson falls to the ice after being tripped in front of Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen, left, makes a save in front of Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Ducks center Ryan Poehling, left, and Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Perbix chase the puck during the third period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators right wing Joakim Kemell, left, celebrates with goaltender Justus Annunen after their 5-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)
Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen, right, celebrates with right wing Joakim Kemmel a teammate after their 5-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators celebrate as the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov looks on after a 5-0 loss on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Nashville Predators players celebrate after their 5-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Nashville Predators celebrate as the Ducks’ Drew Helleson, left, and Pavel Mintyukov look on after a 5-0 loss on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Nashville Predators celebrate after their 5-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Ducks take the ice for a game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke, left, lines up a shot on goal as the Nashville Predators’ Brady Skjei defends during the first period on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Honda Center. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM — The fire alarm is ringing loudly at Honda Center.
It blared as the Ducks were blanked on Tuesday night, 5-0, by a Nashville Predators team that lost in a shootout less than 24 hours earlier, condemning the Ducks to their sixth consecutive defeat.
Five of those flops have come in regulation, and there are only four games left in the regular season.
Where before the Ducks had only to concern themselves with their own play – which has become quite a concern – they now have to watch the scoreboard. They had a five-point lead in the Pacific Division when they began to sink, but now might have to sweat the wild-card race.
The view wasn’t pretty on Tuesday, when the Edmonton Oilers picked up a point with an overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights moved to 4-0-0 under new coach John Tortorella via a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Edmonton (first in the Pacific), Vegas (a points tie for first in the Pacific) and Utah (the first wild-card in the Western Conference) possess identical 88-point totals, while the Ducks are stuck on 87. That’s just four more than the Kings, who dangle near the bottom of the league in both wins and regulation wins but nevertheless sit one point back of Nashville (84) for the second wild card with a game in hand on the Predators.
“It’s not the optimal time to be losing games, obviously, in the season. We put ourselves in a pretty good spot and we’re kind of throwing it away a little bit here at the end,” veteran forward Alex Killorn said. “But there’s still plenty of games left to get those points back.”
Lukáš Dostál stopped 20 shots for the hosts.
Erik Haula, Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov each scored for Nashville, with Haula adding an assist. Ryan O’Reilly and Joakim Kimmell chipped in two helpers apiece. Backup Justus Annunen recorded his first shutout in more than two years behind 43 saves.
After digging themselves a three-goal hole over the course of the second period, the Ducks greased up the sides when Jeffrey Viel took two penalties with 15 seconds left to roll 3:45 of short-handed time into the final 20 minutes.
Though they killed both penalties, they gave up the period’s only two goals, with 10:09 to play and 4:53 remaining.
L’Heureux finished a 4-on-2 opportunity that resulted from three Ducks colliding in front of the Nashville net. Haula occupied the paint and set a screen for L’Heureux to fire through.
The Predators slathered on a fifth goal just after their power play expired, Ryan Ufko’s stretch pass sprung Tyson Jost. He dipped behind the net and found Svechkov in front for a redirect.
This was Nashville’s first shutout of the season, and the sixth instance in which the Ducks had been bageled.
“They’re a desperate team right now and we’re coming on a back-to-back here. They took it to us a little bit early. We weren’t quite up to speed; they’re a really fast team,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “We found the commitment and the urgency in the second and third, and we defended really well. We had really good sticks and we tried to frustrate them a little bit.”
The Ducks were out-shooting Nashville 20-9 in a scoreless game, but the visitors’ 10th shot was the match’s first goal with its midway mark looming. They scored again, at 11:26, and again, with a minute left in the period.
Kimmell gained the Ducks’ zone, faking a slap shot and then curling back toward the blue line to find a trailing Haula. He hammered a shot from between the circles at 7:07.
“In a lot of those games where we came back, we had really bad starts. It seems to be the opposite now,” Killorn said. “We start games really well and then when something goes wrong, we don’t rebound like we used to.”
The Ducks went 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period, and had to kill their first penalty 10:01 into the second. Their special-teams woes persisted.
A slow but decisive build on the Nashville man advantage got the puck back to Forsberg above the right circle. He adjusted his angle and rifled home his 38th goal through an O’Reilly screen.
During their slump, the Ducks have killed just 12 of 18 penalties (they also gave up a goal eight seconds after a power play on Tuesday) and have cashed in only two of 24 power plays.
“We didn’t get any offense and our team game didn’t pick up any momentum off it as well, so it kind of stymied us,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Our penalty kill, on certain nights, it’s been decent.”
Having already ceded an even-strength tally and a man-advantage marker, the Ducks collected the entire set of goals against by allowing one shorthanded.
Jackson LaCombe activated, only to have the puck stolen by O’Reilly. He got the puck ahead to Nick Perbix, who found himself on a 2-on-0 break with his defense partner, Skjei, who finished from between the hashmarks.
The Ducks square off with Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, a group that has won five of six to prolong its postseason hopes.