Ducks clinch No. 3 seed in Pacific by beating Preds

Troy Terryscored on a power play with 2:54 left, and theAnaheim Ducksbeat theNashville Predators5-4on Thursday night helping them clinch the third seed in the Pacific Division for the postseason.

The Ducks came into the regular-season finale third in the Pacific with five different scenarios still possible to lock down thefinal playoff matchups. This win, combined with Edmonton beating visiting Vancouver, means Anaheim starts the first round Monday at Edmonton.

The Ducks closed the season with a 44-33-6 record, marking their most wins in any season since they won 44 in 2017-18, sources report.

Anaheim also took the season series against Nashville 2-1, though the Ducks go into the postseason 2-6-2 over their final 10.

Cutter Gauthier,Jackson LaCombe,Alex KillornandTristan Luneauscored for Anaheim.Mikael Granlundhad three assists.

Steven Stamkosscored twice and had an assist forNashville,giving him 42 goals this season.Filip Forsbergscored two goals, giving him 40, and the Predators a pair of 40-goal scorers.Luke EvangelistaandRyan Ufkoadded two assists apiece.

Gauthier scored 96 seconds into the game to put Anaheim up with a snap shot for his 41st of the season.

The Predators, eliminated from contention Monday night, answered with Stamkos scoring his 41st midway through the first off an assist from rookieCole O'Hara, making his NHL debut.

Forsberg scored on a tip-in on the man advantage at 15:54 for a 2-1 lead. LaCombe's shot from near the blue line got through traffic tying it at 2 with 20.8 seconds left in the first.

Killorn's slap shot gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead at 4:33 of the second. Forsberg tied it at 14:37 with a shot from the slot, then Stamkos put Nashville up 4-3 with a wrister just outside the left crease on the power play.

Luneau tied it at 4:17 of the third scoring off the rebound of Granlund's shot.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.