FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks - Game 54 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks – Game 54 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (32-18-4)  | Anaheim Ducks  (17-31-6)

 

The Golden Knights return home and dominate again as Vegas defeats the Ducks, 7-2. 

 

The Super Bowl was not the only game on Sunday, as the Vegas Golden Knights returned home to play against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena.

With the unfortunate news of Logan Thompson being sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Adin Hill was in the net and must carry the Golden Knights for the next couple of weeks.

The first period of action started in the right way. Just over two minutes in, Paul Cotter scored after a rebound from the right circle to put Vegas on the board first, 1-0.

Vegas outscored the Ducks 12-5 after the 1-0 lead, but Anaheim was showing some signs of offense. But Vegas was still in control in the period.

The first period ended 1-0 with Vegas in the lead.

In the second period,  the Golden Knights scored again after a Brent Howden goal from the left hash marks from an assist from Keegan Kolesar to extend the lead to 2-0.

Vegas was controlling the game’s tempo until Anaheim scored late the in the second period when Frank Vatrano scored off a rebound in front of Adin Hill to make the score 2-1.

The second period ended 2-1, with Vegas still in the lead. The Golden Knights outshot the Ducks 23-14.

 

In the third period, the Golden Knights’ dominance would begin to show

 

The dominance from Vegas started early when goaltender Adin Hill made a nice breakaway save on Ryan Strome. 

“Big save on the breakaway. Timely save,” Cassidy said. “Big, big save. It’s probably going to be forgotten about in a 7-2 game. So we got the timely save.”

Six minutes into the third period, Shae Theodore scores after shooting a one-timer to extend the lead further by 3-1. Just a couple of minutes later, Phil Kessel scored from a rebound to make it 4-1.

The 4-1 lead was not enough for the Golden Knights. Just 3 minutes after the goal from Kessel, Jack Eichel scored, firing a wrist shot to make the score 5-1.

With Vegas dominant and in the lead, the Ducks fired back when Isac Lundestrom scored to cut the lead to 5-2. But the Golden Knights were not done with scoring.

Just 49 seconds later, Michael Amadio scored to push the score to 6-2 in favor of Vegas. Just towards the end of the third period, William Carrier scored the final goal for Vegas to extend it to 7-2.

“We’ve seen some good balance recently. Tonight, after we made 4-1, every line scored,” Cassidy said. “Every line is on the sheet, and that’s a coach’s dream. When they all produce, they all feel good about their game.”

The 7-2 score was the final, as the Golden Knights secured a victory at home against their Pacific Division opponent Anaheim Ducks.

“We’ve seen some good balance recently. Tonight, after we made 4-1, every line scored,” Cassidy said. “Every line is on the sheet, and that’s a coach’s dream. When they all produce, they all feel good about their game.”

After heading into the All-Star break at 1-5-2, the Golden Knights Knights have outscored their last three opponents by a combined 17-4 to take a three-point lead in the Pacific Division with the win over Anaheim.

“I think you’re kind of limping into the break a little bit,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Everyone knows it’s coming. You’re on the road, and things aren’t happening for you, so you’re mentally challenged. Coming out of the break, you’re refreshed. That mental sort of weight is gone. You’re starting over. The history of scoring in our room is there, so we knew it wasn’t going to go on forever.”

 

Takeaway

 

The Golden Knights will remain home when they play against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena. The puck drops at 7:00 pm. The game can be seen on  AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.