Ducks Come Up Short In Overtime

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks traveled to Las Vegas for Game 5 against the Golden Knights. Lukas Dostal was in net against Carter Hart.

Vegas almost scored in the opening minutes of this contest as Dostal stopped an initial shot and the rebound laid in the crease. Cutter Gauthier was able to stop a shot attempt and clear the puck to prevent the score.

At the nine minute mark Brayden McNabb crushed Ryan Poehling along the boards. Poehling laid on the ice for a while before going to the locker room. McNabb was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Poehling did not return.

On the ensuing power play, Beckett Sennecke scored in close knocking a rebound past Hart.

Pavel Dorofeyev then tied up the game on a Vegas power play in the final minutes of the period. He stole the puck from Chris Kreider and then beat Dostal high to tie the game. It was 1-1 after the first period.

There was no scoring in the second period.

Tomas Hertl scored early in the third period to make it a 2-1 advantage for Vegas. He got to a loose puck in the slot area and shot it five-hole to beat Dostal.

Olen Zellweger tied the game up with just over three minutes to go. Gauthier found him at the top of the left circle and he beat Hart over the shoulder.

The teams were tied at two after regulation and headed in overtime. Dorofeyev got to a rebound and scored just over four minutes in the extra session to give Vegas the win.

Analysis:

The Ducks were able to get on the board first during the major penalty levied against McNabb. The Golden Knights then tied the game in the first with a power play goal of their own. After a scoreless second period Vegas went up 2-1 early in the third. Zellweger came up big late in the third to tie the game, but then Vegas scored in overtime to pull out the win.

Anaheim had a chance to get a multiple goal lead off the early major penalty, but had to settle for just one goal. In the second period they outshot Vegas 17 to 6 missing a chance to take the lead. The Ducks outshot the Golden Knights 36 to 27 in regulation, Vegas put up all five shots in overtime with the final one going in.

This game could have gone either way, but mistakes cost the Ducks all the goals against in this contest. Dorofeyev’s first goal was a pick pocket of Chris Kreider before he could clear the zone. The second goal by Hertl was setup by an icing call when Ian Moore failed to clear at the red line. On the ensuing face-off, Moore didn’t clear the rebound in front and Hertl was there to score. The final goal in overtime came after the Ducks failed to clear the zone multiple times. Failed zone clears and unnecessary icings came back to haunt Anaheim in this one.

The good news is the Ducks continue to create more offensive chances at even strength than the Golden Knights despite their ability to block shots. The Ducks need to crash the net more often and find ways to create more secondary chances.

Anaheim’s power play has also come alive as they have three goals with the man advantage in the last two games. If Anaheim can sustain a good forecheck and draw more penalties then they improve their chances to win Game 6. They also need to clean up the zone exits and transition game.

Team Notes/Stats:

Sennecke became the first Anaheim rookie to score a goal in four consecutive playoff games. He became just the fourth rookie in the previous 25 year to achieve this feat.

Zellweger scored his first playoff goal.

There was no update on Poehling’s status after the game.

Jansen Harkins father Donnie Harkins just passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Harkins family.

What’s Next?

Anaheim will host Vegas on Thursday at 6:30 PM

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May 13th, 2026