標籤: Dostel

It took just 66 seconds for the Anaheim Ducks’ good vibes to end in Game 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights won 6-2 on their first shot of the game Friday at Honda Center on the strength of Mitch Marner’s first career Stanley Cup playoff hat trick.

Former Ducks defenseman Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist, and Brayden McNabb scored a key short-handed goal in the first period. Lucas Dostal allowed three goals on eight shots and was pulled for Ville Husso for the second time in these playoffs.

Husso made 17 saves and Bennett Seneca and Chris Kreider each had a goal for Anaheim. Vegas leads the best-of-7 series, and Game 4 takes place on Sunday at Honda Center at 6:30 pm PT.

Ducks power play fails again

The Ducks’ inability to solve the Golden Knights’ offensive penalty kill was a big story entering the game on Friday. But in Game 3, Anaheim’s man-advantage was an active handicap.

The Ducks again went 0-for on two power-play attempts – extending their drought in the Vegas series to 11. But McNabb’s short-handed goal, which came on a nice drop pass from Marner at 12:13 of the first period, was a back-breaker that put the Golden Knights up 2–0.

“I think we’ve got to go with a weird goal there,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “I think we have to establish more shots, not just the right shot or the right way to pass it into the back of the net.”

Anaheim’s power play was an X-factor in a six-game series win over the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Their first power play featured a solid setup and some extended zone time, but neither unit could beat Vegas goalie Carter Hart, who made 31 saves.

“We found something good there,” Quenneville said. “I think we have to be smooth on second and third chances based on good looks and pay that price.”

But the Ducks’ power play is becoming a momentum killer in this series, as in addition to the goal allowed, Anaheim had several squirting Vegas was shorthanded on the power play Friday.

Vegas’ strong start leaves Anaheim in trouble

The Ducks have found a way to rally all postseason. But it is difficult to get off the mat again and again.

Theodore struck out just 1:06 into the game, fielding a clean, cross-slot pass from Jack Eichel and beating Dostal on the Golden Knights’ first shot.

The Ducks were resilient, again scoring a pair of penalties in the first 10 minutes of the game. McNabb’s shorty deepened the hole, and Marner’s goal, which came with 4.6 seconds left in the first period, sent Vegas to the dressing room with a 3–0 lead.

“I didn’t mind our start until they scored a goal and we lost momentum there,” Quenneville said. “Getting that third at the end of the period was definitely a killer. That was basically the game.”

Quenneville, a coach for more than two decades with three Stanley Cup rings, saw Vegas take their game to a new level in Game 3 and he understands it’s time for his team to do the same.

“We have games like this, and we have to make sure we respond in the right way, which is [this is] Unacceptable,” Quenneville said. “I think we should take a lesson from today’s game. It will become more difficult with each game. “It’s not going to be easy, so let’s be ready to go to war.”

A goalkeeper controversy?

Dostal was pulled in the first period of Game 5 against the Oilers, seemingly as a message sent to the Ducks and a way to get them a break in a game that had gotten out of hand.

But pulling Dostal in Game 3 on Friday suddenly felt like a message to the embattled goaltender, especially after he gave up two goals on the first three shots he faced. His save percentage has dropped to .867, and Dostal has given up at least three goals in six of his 10 contests.

Even if you gave him the pass for Theodore’s opening goal, Dostal had to stop McNabb’s innocuous-looking shot that turned out to be a disastrous short-handed goal. He also missed Marner’s initial attempt, giving the wing a chance to score on the rebound.

When Quenneville was asked if he had pulled Dostal to send a message to the team or the goaltender, he said briefly, “Both.”

Husso, who played 20 games for the Ducks during the regular season, held Marner to two goals on 19 shots faced. Husso has a 2.12 goals-against average and .900 save% in his two starts, but he played in seven games for the St. Louis Blues in the 2022 playoffs.

Going down 3-1 to Vegas, which is both seasoned and experienced, would effectively be a death sentence. So the most likely outcome will be that Dostal will start with Husso waiting to enter if the Ducks goalie fumbles again.

Not surprisingly, Quenneville wouldn’t confirm his plans for Sunday’s all-important Game 4.

When Quenneville was asked who would play goal, he said, “We’ll see.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.