Pat Pickens
The Anaheim Ducks vowed to be ready to play for their do-or-die Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
But when the bell actually rang, it was the Golden Knights who answered it.
Vegas scored three first-period goals, including Mitch Marner’s highlight-reel opener just 61 seconds in, and eliminated Anaheim 5-1 at Honda Center.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, and former Ducks defenseman Shea Theodore scored on the power play for Vegas. The Golden Knights advance to play the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.
Mikael Granlund scored the Ducks’ lone goal, and Lukas Dostal made 16 saves in Anaheim’s season-ending loss.
Slow Start Dooms Ducks Again
With their season on the line, the Ducks’ start resembled that of Game 3 against Vegas.
Just as they did in that game, the Golden Knights scored within the first 90 seconds and struck for a back-breaking short-handed goal in the first period.
Theodore, the 26th overall pick of Anaheim from the 2013 NHL Draft, threw in a power-play goal for good measure that made it 3-0 after Alex Killorn’s hooking penalty.
Ducks coach Quenneville spoke after Game 5 about the Ducks’ desperation in their do-or-die game. But it came too late, since the Golden Knights nearly had as many first-period goals (3) as the Ducks had shots (4) in the opening frame.
Anaheim did end up laying it on the line, since it outshot Vegas 28-12 over the final 40 minutes. But it ultimately ended up being too little, too late.
Vegas’ Stars Took Over
Marner was maligned for disappearing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs throughout his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
But he was Vegas’ best player in Game 6, continuing a trend where he dominated the Ducks. Marner had five goals and 11 points in the series, and Dorofeyev — an emerging superstar who has scored 35+ goals in consecutive seasons — tied Marner for the team lead in goals while logging multi-goal games in Games 5 and 6.
The Ducks’ stars had a great run through these playoffs. Beckett Sennecke emerged onto the scene after his rookie season where he was a Calder Trophy finalist. Cutter Gauthier made huge plays, especially setting up goals in the series. Leo Carlsson has validated GM Pat Verbeek’s decision to take him second overall in 2024.
But the more seasoned Vegas star players found a way to persevere against the upstart Ducks. That, and the fact Carter Hart outplayed Dostal, is the reason why Vegas is moving on.
The Ducks’ Expectations Will Only Go Up
It’s natural to be upset when your team’s season ends, especially in the manner in which it did for Anaheim.
But Ducks fans should savor this season. They didn’t have playoff expectations this season yet surprised the league by not only qualifying but landing as the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim didn’t act happy to be there either. It knocked off the reigning two-time Western Conference-champion Edmonton Oilers and pushed the Golden Knights into overtime in an even series in Game 5 before the star-studded core took over.
Success isn’t linear, and the Pacific Division will improve around Anaheim. The Oilers still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The San Jose Sharks look like a force to be reckoned with — especially with the No. 2 overall pick this season.
But Anaheim should have bigger expectations too. The Ducks were one of the NHL’s final eight teams playing this season and had one of the NHL’s youngest rosters.
There should be brighter days ahead in Anaheim.
