Luke Evangelista ends shootout in 8th round, Predators tighten playoff race with 5-4 win over Kings

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Evangelista scored the only goal of the shootout in the eighth round, and the Nashville Predators tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Nashville, Los Angeles and San Jose are now even with 79 points apiece for the second wild-card playoff spot in the West, but the Sharks — who beat Toronto 4-1 earlier Thursday — have a game in hand.

Steven Stamkos scored his 37th goal and Jonathan Marchessault ended his 14-game goal drought for the Preds, who snapped their three-game skid despite blowing a three-goal lead. Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux also scored.

Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots before turning in a perfect eight-round shootout for Nashville.

The first 15 skaters in the shootout all failed to score before Evangelista ended it with a deke and a backhand for his first shootout goal of the season.

Adrian Kempe scored two goals and Joel Armia tied it midway through the third period for the Kings, who have lost six of eight with their season in the balance.

Scott Laughton also scored, and Darcy Kuemper rebounded from a rough beginning to make 31 saves before a strong shootout.

Before the game, the Kings honored retiring captain Anze Kopitar with a ceremony recognizing his 20-year career. The Slovenian center set the team's career scoring record last month.

Forsberg then scored his 35th goal for Nashville in the opening minute on a stoppable shot, and L’Heureux scored moments later when Kuemper was caught out of his crease.

Kuemper even gave a penalty shot to Nashville late in the first by throwing his stick at the puck, but Ryan O'Reilly couldn't convert. Marchessault got his 12th goal — his first in exactly a month — early in the second.

Kempe finally got the Kings going when Artemi Panarin's 51st assist deflected in off his skate, but Stamkos scored just over two minutes later. After Kempe scored again to secure the fourth 30-goal season of his career, Laughton scored moments later on a rebound.

Armia finally tied it when he drove the net and tapped in Jared Wright's rebound for his 11th goal.

Predators: At San Jose on Saturday night.

Kings: Host Toronto on Saturday.

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

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby, left, and Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) looks on as Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin (10) takes a shot on goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Taylor Ward (52) handles the puck away from Nashville Predators center Fedor Svechkov (40) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Linesman CJ Murray (68) drops the puck as Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) and Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula face off during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected Min Aung Hlaing, a general who ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021 and kept an iron grip on power for the past five years, as the country’s new president.

The move marks a nominal return to an elected government but is widely considered to be an effort to keep the army in power after an election organized by the military that opponents and independent observers deemed neither free nor fair.

Min Aung Hlaing was one of three nominees for the president’s post, but was virtually guaranteed the job as lawmakers from military-backed parties and appointed members from the army hold a commanding majority in parliament.

Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of parliament’s combined upper and lower house, announced that Min Aung Hlaing won 429 out of the 584 votes. The two runners-up became vice presidents.

Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of senior general, had earlier relinquished his post of the commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position. A close aide, Gen. Ye Win Oo, took over the powerful job.

The 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing had been the military chief since 2011. Under a military-imposed constitution, he held major power even before overthrowing Suu Kyi’s government.

Parliament members were elected in three phases in December and January. Major opposition parties, including Suu Kyi’s former ruling National League for Democracy, were either blocked from running or refused to compete under conditions they deemed unfair. Suu Kyi has been held in prison.

Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

FILE - Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)

Myanmar's military representatives and lawmakers arrive to attend a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)