Macklin Celebrini Just Buried Nashville's Playoff Dreams, and It Didn't Even Matter For San Jose

Here's the brutal part about the Sharks' 3-2 win over the Predators on Monday night in Nashville: it didn't save anybody. Macklin Celebrini scored twice, Igor Chernyshov added a goal and an assist, and San Jose held on for the road victory. But both teams were already dead before puck drop. The Los Angeles Kings knocked out both of them with a 5-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on the same night, and now the Sharks and Predators are just playing out the string with zero playoff hopes left.

Celebrini and Chernyshov Carried the Load

Celebrini was the difference maker you needed him to be. He opened the scoring wouldn't happen until the second period, but once the Sharks got rolling, he was everywhere. Igor Chernyshov ripped a power-play goal at 9:53 of the second to make it 1-0. Then Celebrini made it 2-0 early in the third when Will Smith stripped the puck in transition, found Chernyshov in the circle, and Chernyshov fed Celebrini for a one-timer in the slot. That's the kind of clean passing that keeps a season breathing, even when the stakes don't exist anymore.

Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots for San Jose, holding the line when Nashville pushed back hard. The Sharks (38-34-8, 84 points) have two games left. Chernyshov's power-play goal came off a William Eklund rebound in the slot, and the chemistry was there when it mattered.

Nashville Fought Back Too Late

Luke Evangelista scored twice for the Predators, pulling them within 2-1 at 15:39 of the third on a perfect pass from Nick Perbix that sent him in behind the defense. But by then it was already slipping away. Celebrini sealed it with an empty-netter at 18:15, and Ryan Ufko's shot deflected in off Evangelista at 18:50 to make one last run at 3-2. Nashville (38-33-10, 86 points) has one game remaining against Anaheim on Thursday. Justus Annunen made 20 saves for the Predators, who were 0-for-1 on the power play while San Jose converted their only chance.

The Sharks outshot Nashville 11-6 in the first period alone. Filip Forsberg hit the post with about 14 minutes left, but it was never enough. Both teams are already looking ahead to next season now.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.