Overview
- The berth became official following Monday's 3-2 Predators loss to the Sharks, which also ended Nashville's postseason hopes.
- With three games left, Anaheim is 42-32-5 and tied for second in the Pacific Division, one point behind first-place Edmonton.
- Cutter Gauthier leads the Ducks with 38 goals, he and Leo Carlsson sit at 65 points each, and rookie Bennett Sennecke has topped 60 points.
- First-year coach Joel Quenneville brings three Stanley Cup rings, though questions in net persist after the John Gibson trade and uneven play from Lukas Dostal, Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso.
- Nashville turns to an offseason of change after a lost year under an outgoing GM, while Anaheim's finish will determine if it lands home ice to start the playoffs.