Nashville Predators 'gutted' after chance at playoffs slips away

Nashville Predators 'gutted' after chance at playoffs slips away

The Nashville Predators had a lot to say about their 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on April 13, which preceded their elimination from Stanley Cup playoff contention.

"We got what we deserve," Ryan O'Reilly said. "Just brutal."

"It's just a really (expletive) feeling, that's all I can really say," Luke Evangelista said.

"This hurts right now," Roman Josi added.

Players were understandably emotional in the locker room at Bridgestone Arena because the Predators just squandered their best chance to stay alive for a playoff spot. Then, they were officially eliminated when the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3.

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) skates with the puck past San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators center Tyson Jost (17) moves the puck past San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) battles for the puck with San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Perbix (48) sets up to pass the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) reaches for the puck during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) battles San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

Nashville Predators center Fedor Svechkov (40) collides with San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

A catfish is removed from the ice before a game between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) skates with the puck past San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) skates with the puck past San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators center Tyson Jost (17) moves the puck past San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) battles for the puck with San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Perbix (48) sets up to pass the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) reaches for the puck during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) battles San Jose Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

Nashville Predators center Fedor Svechkov (40) collides with San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) during the first period at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

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Nashville Predators, Steven Stamkos battle San Jose Sharks in chase for wild card

A catfish is removed from the ice before a game between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 13, 2026.

"We just didn't start the way we needed to," O'Reilly said. "Got down, couldn't find our way back . . . disappointing. Personally, and as a group."

After a scoreless first period, the Sharks went up 1-0 on a power play goal by Igor Chernyshov in the second. In the third, Macklin Celebrini scored twice, including an empty netter, to hold off a late rally.

Evangelista scored the only goals for Nashville, including one with 1:10 left to make it 3-2. But the offense couldn't solve goalie Alex Nedeljkovic early, which frustrated the Predators' forwards late.

"We were just playing a little too tight," Evangelista said. "We were passing up some shots and we weren't playing our game until the second half of the game."

Andrew Brunette 'gutted' for his team after loss to Sharks

Give the Predators credit for this season's turnaround. After being in last place in the NHL in November, they won 32 of their final 58 games to get within reach of the playoffs in the final week.

For coach Andrew Brunette, that's what made this loss so much worse.

"You feel gutted," he said. "Everything we went through as a group to put ourselves in position to play this game tonight, you're disappointed that we didn't get the result."

Brunette, who is wrapping up his third season behind the bench for Nashville, said it was one of the more painful losses in his coaching career.

“This one hurts . . . probably hurts one of the most of my career, playing, coaching, just how much we went through it together, how much belief there was, and how we stuck together through all kinds of different things and just fell short," he said

The Predators wrap up the regular season April 16 against the Anaheim Ducks (7 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network) at Bridgestone Arena.

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Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators 'gutted' after loss to Sharks leads to playoff elimination