The Anaheim Ducks snapped their power-play drought with two crucial goals to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3, evening the Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2, as Beckett Sennecke and Alex Killorn led the offensive charge in a critical Game 4 victory.
The Anaheim Ducks’ power play, dormant for the first three games, came alive in the clutch, propelling them to a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night and even the series at 2-2. This victory marks a turning point in the Western Conference semifinal, as the Ducks overcame significant challenges to seize home-ice advantage.
Before Game 4, the Ducks had been a dismal 0 for 11 on the power play, a statistic that highlighted a major vulnerability. That changed dramatically when Beckett Sennecke and Alex Killorn each scored with the man advantage. Sennecke opened the scoring at 8:43 of the first period with a shot from the right circle, and Killorn provided the eventual game-winner with a squeeze shot at 2:02 of the second period, a detail confirmed by Field Level Media.
Adding to the Ducks’ offensive depth, Ian Moore netted his first career playoff goal at 3:43 of the third period, extending the lead to 4-2. Cutter Gauthier chipped in with three assists, while goaltender Lukas Dostal made 18 saves to secure the win.
For the Golden Knights, the absence of captain Mark Stone, who suffered an injury in Game 3, was keenly felt. Pavel Dorofeyev, Brett Howden, and Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas, with Hertl snapping a 29-game goal drought with just 64 seconds left in regulation, a detail confirmed by Field Level Media. Despite Carter Hart‘s 19 saves and three assists from Mitch Marner and two from Jack Eichel, the Knights couldn’t complete the comeback.
Coaches offered contrasting perspectives. “We’ve got momentum and things are going good as long as you can keep it,” said Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. “That’s better than chasing it.” Meanwhile, Vegas coach John Tortorella remained defiant: “I have zero worry about this team, as far as how we’re going to go about the next few games here. Wherever it goes to, I have total trust.”
The power-play resurgence is the story of this game. After 11 failed opportunities, converting twice in Game 4 not only provided the necessary goals but also psychological momentum. For the Knights, the loss of Stone and the inability to contain the Ducks’ power play raise questions about their strategy moving forward. Hertl’s goal offers a silver lining, but the late tally wasn’t enough to shift the series’ momentum.
From a fan perspective, this series has become a battle of adjustments. The Ducks have found a solution to their power-play woes, while the Knights must adapt without their captain and find ways to generate offense at even strength. Game 5 in Vegas will be a test of which team can better execute under pressure, with special teams likely deciding the outcome.
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