FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks - Game 38 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Ducks – Game 38 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (24-12-2)  | Anaheim Ducks (10-22-4)

 

The Golden Knights drop their second game in a row in Southern California, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout 3-2.

 

After having a tough matchup in Hollywood against the Los Angeles Kings, the Vegas Golden Knights traveled up North on Interstate 5 to Orange County to face off against another Pacific Division opponent, the Anaheim Ducks, at the Honda Center. 

The Ducks are last in the Pacific Division, but any game in divisional play should not be taken for granted.

Anaheim was first to strike during the first 3 minutes of the first period when Adam Henrique scored after taking a shot from the side of the net that Adin Hill saved. Still, the puck fell in the crease, allowing Henrique to skate behind the net and push it across the goal line to put the Ducks on the board 1-0.

The Ducks had control of the tempo early in the first period, but Vegas had an opportunity to take back the momentum when they were on a 5-on-3 power play advantage but could not capitalize on it. 

Vegas would find themselves in bigger problems later on midway in the first when Adam Henrique once again scored, firing a slap shot past Hill to extend the lead for the Ducks 2-0. 

 

After giving up two goals in the first period, Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy makes a tough but shocking move and pulls Adin Hill and puts in Logan Thompson.

 

“We changed the goalie, and I’m not a big proponent of that. But something looked off,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said.

Just a minute after the goalie change, the Ducks were on the power play due to a slashing call on Phill Kessel. But the power play for the Ducks would not help nor distract the Knights when Mark Stone scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway to finally put the Knights on the board 2-1.

Going into the second period, both teams had power play opportunities, but neither would score. Ducks goaltender John Gibson made his best save of the night after stopping Reilly Smith’s backhand shot.

But midway in the second period, at the 13:32 mark, Ben Hutton scored after Gibson at first saved the shot from Hutton up close, but his follow-up shot went off a skate and into the net to tie the game 2-2.

 

 

Throughout the first two periods, Vegas was in complete control on offense. Vegas outshot Anaheim 17-7 in the first period and 20-5 in the second.

 

The third period would remain scoreless, even though the Ducks were on the power play, but Vegas’ penalty kill unit was able to kill off any chances of the Ducks’ hopes to take the lead.

The game then headed into overtime. Just midway, about 3 minutes into overtime, the Ducks were again on the power play due to a tripping call on Mark Stone.

Vegas had their backs against the wall during the last two minutes of overtime, being on the penalty kill but was successful as overtime was now going into a shootout.

Going into the shootout, both Duck players Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry were successful in their shootout, but it came for the Knights. Mark Stone did not score, and it was down to Reilly Smith as his shot was wide away from John Gibson, as the Ducks came out with the victory winning 3-2.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

 Logan Thompson, who had replaced Adin Hill, ended the night with 22 saves. Michael Amadio, who assisted Ben Hutton on his goal, was his NHL career-high five-game point streak (three goals, four assists). Alex Pietrangelo played over 34:16 minutes, an NHL career-high for Pietrangelo. Mark Stone has four goals in the past four games.

 

On Saturday, the Golden Knights will return home to The Fortress for New Year’s Eve as they take on the Nashville Predators at T-Mobile Arena. They are scheduled to drop the puck at noon. 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.