VIDEO: Anaheim Has No Luck Against Vegas

Photo: AP, Marcio Jose Sanchez

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights. John Gibson was in net against Marc-Andre Fleury.

First Period

The game started at a fast pace which continued throughout the game. Vegas would score first on a point shot by Nate Schmidt. There was a delayed penalty against Anaheim and it appeared that Gibson had possession of the puck, but the refs let the play carry on. Randy Carlyle pended his team’s case to the officials, but he never got an explanation for allowing the goal. Ducks nearly tied up the game when the puck hit the crossbar and then sat on the goal line before being cleared out. At the end of the period, Vegas lead 1-0, outshooting Anaheim 17-6.

Second Period

The Ducks answered early in the middle frame with two goals just about 18 apart. First, while on the power play Daniel Sprong blasted one past a screened Fleury to tie the game. Next Hampus Lindholm would draw Fleury to one side of the net and then find Carter Rowney on the other side for an easy score. The Ducks were up 2-1, but the lead didn’t last long. Tomas Nosek would get to a loose puck at the side of the Anaheim net and tap it in to tie the game. About 30 seconds later, Paul Stasny would then Max Pacioretty at the side of the net for the score. Vegas lead 3-2 after two periods.

Third Period

The Ducks got an early power play when Jon Merril was called for delay of game, but they couldn’t convert. Later in the period, Adam Henrique was called for a face-off violation and shortly after Ryan Kesler received a four-minute double minor. Anaheim was able to kill off about four and a half minutes worth of penalties. In the final minutes, the Ducks pulled Gibson for the extra attacker, but they couldn’t get the tying goal.

Analysis

The Ducks played a high tempo game and could have easily earned at least one point again. The first goal by Vegas was questionable because Gibson had touched the puck, but the play wasn’t blown dead and never reviewed. Anaheim almost tied the game later in the opening period, but they had no luck as the puck hit the crossbar and sat on the goal line. In the third period, Kesler was called for a double-minor, which appeared to be a two-minute penalty at most. The Ducks had momentum in the third period and looked like they could have tied the game, but killing off four and a half minutes of penalties isn’t going to help the cause. Anaheim will look to end the seven-game skid against Edmonton on Sunday.

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January 5th, 2019