The Anaheim Ducks secured a notable victory against the Vegas Golden Knights, winning 4-3 on Sunday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Chris Kreider was a standout performer, scoring two goals to propel the Ducks back into playoff contention after a brief losing streak.
The Ducks’ win marked their fourth consecutive home victory. They entered the match looking to bounce back from two losses, which followed a successful seven-game winning streak earlier in the month. With this win, Anaheim improved its record against the Golden Knights to three victories in three games this season, including two overtime wins.
In the first period, Kreider opened the scoring at 13:21, capitalizing on a pass from Ryan Poehling that deflected off his skate and crossed the goal line. Kreider’s second goal came just over a minute into the second period when he redirected a powerful shot from Jacob Trouba, marking his 19th goal of the season and placing him second on the team in scoring.
The Ducks extended their lead to 3-0 at 4:32 of the second period when Cutter Gauthier netted his team-leading 24th goal during a power play, firing a shot through traffic from the left circle. However, the Golden Knights responded shortly after, with Mitch Marner finding the back of the net at 9:47, converting a pass from Mark Stone before Ducks’ goaltender Lukas Dostal could react.
The intensity continued into the third period, where the Golden Knights narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 10:40. Ivan Barbashev tipped a shot past Dostal, marking his third consecutive game with a goal following a lengthy scoring drought.
The Ducks regained some breathing room when Poehling sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 1:07 remaining, assisted by Troy Terry, who had returned from an 11-game absence due to an upper body injury. The Golden Knights managed to score again with just 5.3 seconds left in the match, as Tomas Hertl found the net, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
Despite the loss, the Golden Knights faced their season-high fifth consecutive defeat, now with a record of 0-3-2 in their last five games. The team has struggled since a seven-game winning streak ended on January 19, now sitting with a record of 1-5-2 in their last eight matches.
As the Ducks continue to build momentum, the focus shifts to their upcoming games, where they aim to solidify their playoff position. The victory not only boosts team morale but also enhances their standings as they move forward in the season.
