The Kings' Win Over Seattle Just Killed Both the Sharks and Predators, and Celebrini Scored Twice Anyway
The San Jose Sharks got a 3-2 road win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night, but here is the brutal part: it does not matter. Both teams are already eliminated from playoff contention after the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3 the same night. The Sharks stay alive mathematically with two games left, but realistically? They are done. Macklin Celebrini scored two goals to pace San Jose, while Igor Chernyshov added a goal and an assist. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots to earn the win.
Celebrini Carried the Load When It Mattered Most
Celebrini opened the scoring in the third period at 3:04, finishing a beautiful sequence that started with Will Smith forcing a turnover. Chernyshov worked the puck down into the left circle, drew the defense over, and fed Celebrini for a one-timer from the slot. The kid made it 2-0 and had Nashville on the ropes early in the final frame.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiBut the Predators clawed back. Luke Evangelista cut it to 2-1 at 15:39 with help from a perfect Nick Perbix pass that sent him behind the defense. Evangelista beat Nedeljkovic with a wrist shot to the short-side top corner. Then the chaos started. With the Nashville net empty, Celebrini sealed it with an empty-netter at 18:15 to make it 3-1. Ryan Ufko answered back seconds later at 18:50, his shot deflecting off Evangelista to cut it to 3-2, but the Sharks held on.
Both Teams Were Already Headed for the Exit
Before puck drop Monday night, word came down that the Kings had beaten the Kraken 5-3. That loss was the final nail. Both San Jose (38-34-8, 84 points) and Nashville (38-33-10, 86 points) hit the playoff exit ramp simultaneously. The Sharks have two games remaining and kept mathematically alive, but elimination math does not lie. The Predators have one game left against Anaheim on Thursday.
San Jose converted their only power-play chance; Chernyshov buried the first one at 9:53 of the second after William Eklund found him for a one-timer from the left face-off dot. Nashville went 0-for-1 on the power play. The Sharks outshot Nashville 11-6 in a scoreless first period, but momentum does not matter when the season is already over.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Western Conference.
View X conversation →This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.