Zegras has big game on birthday and Gibson makes 33 saves to lead Ducks over Predators 4-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist on his 24th birthday, John Gibson made 33 saves and the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Thursday night.

Jackson LaCombe, Troy Terry and Alex Killorn also scored for the Ducks. Mason McTavish added two assists.

Steven Stamkos gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the first period. It was the 578th goal of Stamkos' career, passing Mark Recchi for 22nd place in NHL history.

Gibson made his first start after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. It was just his fourth appearance since a 26-save performance in a 2-1 victory over Dallas on Feb. 4.

Anaheim improved to 5-7-2 in its past 14 games, including a 2-1 home win against Nashville last Friday.

Justus Annunen stopped 30 shots for the Predators, who have managed only three goals while going 0-3-1 in their past four games.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks right wing Brett Leason (20) passes the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Justin Barron (20) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) gathers the puck past Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) hits Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) into the glass during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney (24) hits the puck past Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) scores a goal past Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) moves the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei (76) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (21) and Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) battle for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) scores a goal past Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29), and defensemen Spencer Stastney (24) and Marc Del Gaizo (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

ADEN, Yemen (AP) — Saudi warplanes have reportedly struck on Friday forces in southern Yemen backed by the United Arab Emirates, a separatist leader says.

This comes as a Saudi-led operation attempts to take over camps of the Southern Transitional Council, or STC, in the governorate of Haramout that borders Saudi Arabia.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE rose after the STC moved last month into Yemen’s governorates of Hadramout and Mahra and seized an oil-rich region. The move pushed out forces affiliated with the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces, a group aligned with the coalition in fighting the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen accused the head of the STC of blocking a Saudi mediation delegation from landing in the southern city of Aden.

The STC deputy and former Hamdrmout governor, Ahmed bin Breik, said in a statement that the Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced toward the camps, but the separatists refused to withdraw, apparently leading to the airstrikes.

Mohamed al-Nakib, spokesperson for the STC-backed Southern Shield Forces, also known as Dera Al-Janoub, said Saudi airstrikes caused fatalities, without providing details. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim.

Al-Nakib also accused Saudi Arabia in a video on X of using “Muslim Brotherhood and al-Qaeda militias” in a "large-scale attack " early Friday that he claimed sepratists were able to repel.

He likened the latest developments to Yemen’s 1994 civil war, “except that this time it is under the cover of Saudi aviation operations.”

Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadramout who was chosen Friday by Yemen's internationally recognized government to command the Saudi-led forces in the governorate, refuted STC claims, calling them “ridiculous” and showing intentions of escalation instead of a peaceful handover, according Okaz newspaper, which is aligned with the Saudi government.

Earlier on Friday, al-khanbashi called the current operation of retrieving seized areas “peaceful.”

“This operation is not a declaration of war and does not seek escalation,” al-Khanbashi said in a speech aired on state media. “This is a responsible pre-emptive measure to remove weapons and prevent chaos and the camps from being used to undermine the security in Hadramout,” he added.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen demands the withdrawal of STC forces from the two governorates as part of de-escalation efforts. The STC has so far refused to hand over its weapons and camps.

The coalition's spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said Friday on X that Saudi-backed naval forces were deployed across the Arabian Sea to carry out inspections and combat smuggling.

In his post on X, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the kingdom had tried “all efforts with STC” for weeks "to stop the escalation" and to urge the separatists to leave Hadramout and Mahra, only to be faced with “continued intransigence and rejection from Aidarous al-Zubaidi," the STC head.

Al-Jaber said the latest development was not permitting the Saudi delegation's jet to land in Aden, despite having agreed on its arrival with some STC leaders to find a solution that serves “everyone and the public interest.”

Yemen’s transport ministry, aligned with STC, said Saudi Arabia imposed on Thursday requirements mandating that flights to and from Aden International Airport undergo inspection in Jeddah. The ministry expressed “shock” and denounced the decision. There was no confirmation from Saudi authorities.

ِA spokesperson with the transport ministry told the AP late Thursday that all flights from and to the UAE were suspended until Saudi Arabia reverses these reported measures.

Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war for more than a decade, with the Houthis controlling much of the northern regions, while a Saudi-UAE-backed coalition supports the internationally recognized government in the south. However, the UAE also helps the southern separatists who call for South Yemen to secede once again from Yemen. Those aligned with the council have increasingly flown the flag of South Yemen, which was a separate country from 1967-1990.

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Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.

Southern Yemen soldiers of Southern Transitional Council (STC) at a check point, in Aden, Yemen, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo)