Anaheim Beats Vegas, Sweeps Season Series

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks returned home from their road trip and hosted the Vegas Godlen Knights. Lukas Dostal was in net against Adin Hill. Mason McTavish and Troy Terry returned to the lineup after both were out with injuries.

Chris Kreider got the Ducks on the board in the first period. Ryan Poehling attempted a centering pass and it hit Kreider’s skate deflecting into the net. Anaheim was up 1-0 after the first period.

Kreider scored his second goal in the opening minute of the middle frame to make it a 2-0 lead. He redirected Jacob Trouba‘s point shot past Hill.

Cutter Gauthier then scored on the power play about three minutes late to build a 3-0 lead. He scored in close from the right face-off circle.

Vegas got on the board when Mitch Marner scored hallway through the period. Mark Stone‘s pass from behind the net hit the skate of Ian Moore at the left post and deflected toward the other side of the net, where Marner had an easy tap in goal. The Ducks were up 3-1 after two periods.

Ivan Barbashev scored halfway through the third period to make it a 3-2 contest. Dostal stopped his initial shot, but the puck slide behind him resting int he crease. Barbashev got to it before Dostal and knocked it into the net.

In the final minutes Vegas pulled their goalie and Poehling scored into the empty net to make it 4-2.

Vegas did score with about five seconds to get back within one. Tomas Hertl scored in close at the right side of the net. Anaheim went on to win 4-3.

Analysis:

The Ducks took advantage of a Vegas team that had a slow to start the game after having played the night before. Anaheim was able to get the first goal and then build a 3-0 lead in the second period. Vegas was able to battle back within a goal to make the game interesting, but Anaheim was able to still pull out the win.

Anaheim had a strong first two periods. They outshot Vegas 16 to 12 and were ahead 3-1. The Golden Knights then applied all kinds of pressure in the third period with 19 shots on goal. Dostal played well in net only allowing one goal for most of the third period. He did give up a second goal in the dying seconds, which wouldn’t have changed the outcome anyway.

The Ducks won the special teams battle. They scored once on their two man advantages. Vegas also had two power plays, but they couldn’t convert on either one.

Terry looked great after being out injured. He got two assists with one coming on Kreider’s second goal and the other coming on Poehling’s empty net goal.

Gauthier continues to tear it up this season. He scored his team leading 24th goal.

Team Notes/Stats:

Anaheim swept the season series against Vegas. The Ducks went 3-0-0 and won each game by a 4-3 score.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the Seattle Kraken Tuesday at 7 PM.

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February 2nd, 2026