Terry's late power-play goal lifts Anaheim past Preds 5-4 setting up Ducks-Oilers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Troy Terry scored on a power play with 2:54 left, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Thursday night helping them clinch the third seed in the Pacific Division for the postseason.

The Ducks came into the regular-season finale third in the Pacific with five different scenarios still possible to lock down the final playoff matchups This win, combined with Edmonton beating visiting Vancouver, means Anaheim starts the first round Monday at Edmonton.

Anaheim also took the season series against Nashville 2-1, though the Ducks go into the postseason 2-6-2 over their final 10.

Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Alex Killorn and Tristan Luneau scored for Anaheim. Mikael Granlund had three assists.

Steven Stamkos scored twice and had an assist for Nashville, giving him 42 goals this season. Filip Forsberg scored two goals, giving him 40, and the Predators a pair of 40-goal scorers. Luke Evangelista and Ryan Ufko added two assists apiece.

Gauthier scored 96 seconds into the game to put Anaheim up with a snap shot for his 41st of the season.

The Predators, eliminated from contention Monday night, answered with Stamkos scoring his 41st midway through the first off an assist from rookie Cole O'Hara, making his NHL debut.

Forsberg scored on a tip-in on the man advantage at 15:54 for a 2-1 lead. LaCombe's shot from near the blue line got through traffic tying it at 2 with 20.8 seconds left in the first.

Killorn's slap shot gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead at 4:33 of the second. Forsberg tied it at 14:37 with a shot from the slot, then Stamkos put Nashville up 4-3 with a wrister just outside the left crease on the power play.

Luneau tied it at 4:17 of the third scoring off the rebound of Granlund’s shot.

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Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier, left, celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) celebrates his goal with center Mikael Granlund (64) and left wing Chris Kreider, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) collides with Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso (33) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) celebrates his goal with center Ryan Poehling (25) and left wing Alex Killorn (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, second from right, celebrates his goal with left wing Cutter Gauthier (61), center Mason McTavish (23) and defenseman Jacob Trouba (65) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso (33) lets a goal by Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) score during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election for California governor Friday after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the nation’s most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office — including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary — to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field.

“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Becerra said in a statement. “We are never backing down. November, here we come.”

It was not yet clear who Becerra will face in the general election. His top rivals came down to Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign.

Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family’s immigrant background mirrored his “underdog” gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months.

After one of the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out of the race, Becerra benefited from an opening to coalesce Democratic support. He quickly racked up key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders.

Becerra has vowed to maintain the state’s mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. As attorney general he filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy.

The president has also been in a spat with the state over its drawn-out vote count. Trump made baseless claims mass fraud Thursday, and on Friday federal prosecutors said they opened investigations into allegations of election fraud. Hilton called for California to limit mail ballots to those who request them, rather sending them to all registered voters.

During the campaign Becerra's rivals scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and unaccompanied migrant children crisis in 2021, when Becerra’s Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for shelters where they were housed. Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.

If elected, Becerra said, he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates.

Though California is one of the nation’s most diverse states, almost all its governors have been white men. Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s.

Newsom was barred by term limits from seeking a third stint in office.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during his election night watch party in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Huntington Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)