標籤: Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks’ season ended with a 5-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round on Thursday night at Honda Center. Vegas won the series 4–2 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

Vegas has now reached the conference finals for the fifth time in nine seasons, a reminder of how quickly that organization has racked up playoff weight. For Anaheim, it was the end of its first postseason run since 2018.

There were just 62 seconds left in the game when Mitch Marner scored on a breakaway to give Vegas a 1–0 lead. William Karlsson sent him through with a long pass and Marner beat Lucas Dostal with a superb finish. Fast start. Bad sign.

CBS Sports reported that Marner played a role in all three of Vegas’ goals in the first period, and that the first period push largely shaped the night. Anaheim wasn’t saddled with a single bad rebound. It took three hits before Duck could regain his footing.

Brett Howden scored short-handed at 8:30 of the first period after taking a feed from Marner. This made the score 2-0 and made it doubly sad for Ducks fans because the team was on the power play.

NHL.com said Howden’s goal was his third short-handed goal of the playoffs, breaking the NHL record for most scored in a playoff game.

Shea Theodore made it 3-0 with 2:41 left in the opening period. Tomas Hertl won the offensive zone draw against Theodore and he beat Dostal with a wrist shot from the blue line.

Granlund gives a little life to Anaheim

Mikael Granlund cut the lead to 3-1 with 7:14 left in the second period. This gave some hope to the team and fans.

Carter Hart stopped 31 of 32 shots, showing that the Ducks put enough pucks on net to make the game interesting, but not enough of them turned into real damage.

Any hopes ended in the third period as Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice. His first shot came just under three minutes into the frame after Ivan Barbashev forced a turnover and set him up in the right circle. His second came with 6:28 remaining, making the score 5–1.

A tough ending, but not an empty one

Vegas now travels to Colorado for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, May 20. Anaheim is entering the offseason after a playoff run that ended hard, but he still showed growth.

From a Ducks fan’s perspective, it stings because the series had potential. Anaheim won Game 2. This was answered in Game 4. It forced overtime in Game 5. Then came Game 6, and Vegas looked like the older, faster team.

The ducks are here now. They’re closer than ever and being years away from the postseason, it still means something.

Despite dominating for large portions of Game 5, the Anaheim Ducks lost 3–2 in overtime on Pavel Dorofeyev’s second goal of the game at 4:10 of the extra session.

Beckett Seneke and Olen Zellweger each scored a goal for Anaheim, and Cutter Gauthier had two assists. Lucas Dostal made 29 saves.

The Ducks will face elimination in Game 6 at Honda Center on Thursday at 6:30 pm PT.

Ducks had no answer to Vegas’ OT push

Anaheim dominated the second and third periods and outscored Vegas 27-16 in those 40 minutes. Also, the Ducks took the lead when Zellweger made a big save by scoring her first career Stanley Cup playoff goal with just 3:05 left in regulation.

Yet, in a city famous for its high-profile boxing matches, Vegas reached the knockout stage early in overtime. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 5–0 in the extra session and finally answered the bell after a physical 40-minute onslaught from Anaheim.

“I thought it was a very competitive game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “It’s definitely a big disappointment, but tomorrow you’ll wake up, and it’ll be a new day.”

Dorofeyev’s second goal concluded an eventful night. He single-handedly scored the Golden Knights’ first goal by deflecting the puck to Chris Kreider on what would have been a short-handed two-on-one, then skated to the slot and beat Dostal to tie the game at 1.

But Dorofeyev missed at least two shifts in the second period after injuring his knee from a slap shot. He returned later in the frame and buried the game-winning goal by batting in Jack Eichel’s rebound in the air in front of Dostal.

Zellweger said, “That was a tight game. There were a lot of chances all the way.” “[Dostal] Played amazing.

“We just need to reset, and we know what we need to do in the next game.”

Cutter Gauthier almost saved the day

Gauthier has played like a superstar throughout the second-round series, and he was Anaheim’s best player again in Game 5. He found Zellweger with a slick cross-slot pass that set up the young defenseman to tie the game late.

Gauthier now has five assists over the last two games and a primary assist on each of the Ducks’ last four goals before Game 4.

But his two assists were only part of Gauthier’s contribution. He also saved a goal in the first period by sweeping the puck from the goal line, keeping the game scoreless.

Anaheim played the forward throughout Game 5 after losing center Ryan Poehling to an undisclosed injury in the first period. Vegas defenseman Braden McNabb took a hard check against Poehling and was ejected after officials called a major penalty for interference.

Seneca beat Vegas goalie Carter Hart between the pads on the next power play, then Gauthier made a neat zone-saving play along the half-wall.

The Ducks scored a power-play goal for the second straight game and finished 1 of 2 – the major penalty being their only man-advantage.

Ducks face elimination in Game 6

After all this, the Ducks will face elimination for the first time this season.

“I know this group will bounce back like we have all playoff long,” Ducks forward Mason McTavish said after Game 5. “We’ll take some lessons from this and be ready to go.”

The Ducks have also played with the Golden Knights for the majority of the series. Vegas has a plus-4 goal differential – partly due to its two empty-net goals in the series.

Anaheim has played hard the last two games. Even though Dostal should have swallowed Rasmus Andersen’s initial shot on Hertz’s goal, the Ducks goaltender has been solid since suffering the blowout in Game 3.

So even though they lost a gut-punch game in Vegas, the Ducks are saying all the right things ahead of their final home game of the 2025-26 season.

“I think our guys will be excited about it,” Quenneville said. “It’s a fun opportunity. We’ve got to come out and play hard and simple at home and get excited by the home crowd. It’s a game to play one more time. That’s our mentality.”

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

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven second-round playoff series.

Pavel Dorofeyev scored twice, including the winner four minutes into overtime.

Beckett Seneke scored on the power play with 7:24 left in the first period to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Less than four minutes later, Dorofeyev responded with a Vegas power-play goal, firing past Lucas Dostal from the high slot after Tomas Hertl’s earlier chance was blocked wide.

The second period remained scoreless.

At 4:48 of the third period, Hertl gave the Golden Knights their first lead of the night. Rasmus Andersson sent the puck toward the net, and Hertl found the loose puck before beating Dostal in the five-hole for a 2–1 Vegas lead.

This is sad for Ducks fans. Not because Anaheim was running out of rinks, but because the team was so in.

Zellweger gives Ducks a late chance

Olen Zellweger tied it 2–2 with 3:05 remaining in regulation, sending the game into overtime and giving Anaheim a real chance to steal Game 5. The Ducks have already shown that they can provide answers in this series. Game 4 proved that. This was another chance to put the pressure back on Vegas.

However, Dorofeyev won it in overtime after Jack Eichel kept the puck alive in the offensive zone. Eichel passed it to Dorofeyev, who took a bounce off Dostal’s pads and put the puck into the net for a 3-2 Vegas win.

NHL.com reports that Dorofeyev now has a career-high seven goals this postseason, while Eichel picked up his 14th assist in the playoffs. According to the same report, Eichel leads the league with six assists on game-tying goals this postseason.

Carter Hart stopped 34 of 36 shots and finished with a .944 save percentage, which tells you Anaheim had enough chances to win this game.

Game 6 gets simpler

Anaheim now goes home for Game 6 at Honda Center on Thursday, May 14. Vegas holds a 3-2 lead in the series, and the Ducks no longer have room for soft periods, loose innings, or missed chances on the man advantage.

From the Ducks fan side, Game 5 was brutal because it was winnable. Seneca scored. Zellweger arrived late. Anaheim shot 36 shots at Hart. Still, Vegas got the last surge, the last finish, and the series lead.

During the first three games of their second round series, the power play was actively hurting the Anaheim Ducks.

But everything changed on Sunday night.

The Ducks scored a pair of power-play goals, their first in the series, and won 4–3 over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Honda Center.

Alex Killorn and Bennett Seneca each scored with a man advantage, and Ian Moore and Mikael Granlund also lit the lamp. Goalie Lucas Dostal returned after being pulled in Game 3, making 18 saves and helping Anaheim even the best-of-7 series at 2 games to one.

Game 5 returns to Vegas on Tuesday at 6:30 pm PT

Ducks power play came up huge in Game 4

The Ducks’ power play hit rock bottom in Game 3. Anaheim was 0 of 11 with the man advantage in three games and allowed a back-breaking short-handed goal to Brayden McNabb in Game 3.

But their man-advantage rose from the ashes in the all-important Game 4.

Seneca opened the scoring with a man-advantage goal in the first period, then Killorn broke a 2-all tie and put Anaheim ahead on the power play at 17:58 of the second period.

“Once you score one, it changes the confidence on the power play,” Killorn said. “To see someone step up for us, it was kind of a momentum booster.

“Huge for us. He’s got a great PK.”

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville talked about Anaheim needing to get the puck to the net more, as it only had two shots on two power plays in the first period. That Sunday the Ducks did just that and got a reward.

“I think sometimes you can move the puck around too much and you’re looking for the right opportunity on the power play,” Killorn said. “I think for us, it’s about getting more chances on net and more shots.”

Seneca’s blast from the point somehow went under the pads of Vegas goalie Carter Hart. Killorn then received a pass from Seneca and executed a give-and-go with Cutter Gauthier, who had three assists, before beating Hart on a stoppable shot on the power-play tally.

“I think the first three games I wasn’t getting enough shots,” Gauthier said. “Fortunately, people were able to bury one. I made a few passes.”

Anaheim’s depth also increased in Game 4

The Ducks became more physical in Game 4 with the Golden Knights. But they also got contributions from key role players.

The Ducks’ fourth line was on the ice for Granlund’s goal, with wing Jeffrey Viel getting the only assist. Moore, who had played well in Games 2 and 3 and played only 8:27 minutes in Game 4, then buried the game-winning goal, with teammate Olen Zellweger getting a secondary assist in his first Stanley Cup playoff game.

“I thought they both did a great job,” Quenneville said of Zellweger and Moore. “He may not have had a lot of minutes, but also the quality of his shifts was important. He defied us to a certain extent. He gave us a little bit of everything.”

Killorn reported that Moore has been playing both forward and defense, and has been playing throughout the season. But Quenneville put him back on the blue line with Zellweger to replace Drew Helson and Tyson Hinds, who were Game 4 scratches.

“That’s the kind of mentality you have to have in the playoffs. It’s next up,” Killorn said. “I think these guys have done a great job of putting themselves in a position where they’re ready to come in and not only play but make an impact on the game.”

Game 5 is the biggest Ducks game in nine years

The Ducks and Golden Knights have alternated wins and losses in the first four games, and Anaheim’s win assures a return to Honda Center for Game 6 on Thursday.

To the outside world, the fact that the Ducks are still tied after four games will be surprising, as they are ahead of schedule. But Anaheim deserves to stay where it is, even though it hasn’t played a game of this outcome since Game 5 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators.

The Anaheim roster did not have a single player playing in that series, and Quenneville was the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks that year.

Still, the panic and anger will only escalate from here. buckle up.

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

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.

Marco Rossi scored on a power play with 10 seconds left in overtime, helping the Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Sunday night at the Honda Centre.

The goal came after Chris Kreider was called for slashing and prevented Anaheim from clinching its first playoff berth since the 2017–18 season.

Vancouver got a goal and an assist from Rossi, the first NHL goal from Curtis Douglas, a power-play finish from Jake DeBrusk and a short-handed strike from Brock Boeser.

Nikita Tolopillo made 24 saves, while Anaheim wasted a two-goal night from Cutter Gauthier and 22 stops from Lucas Dostal.

Anaheim came across like a team ready to punch its playoff ticket on home soil, Vancouver responded with more pressure than you might expect from a club in this difficult season, and by the third period it had turned into one of those loose, tense nights where no one seemed safe with the lead.

game flow

At 3:41 of the first period, Gauthier opened the scoring by finishing a one-timer in the open side after Chris Kreider tapped in a rebound in the crease.

Vancouver answered at 10:49 when Douglas pushed in a loose puck for his first NHL goal, a feel-good moment that the Canucks desperately needed on a night.

Late in the period, DeBrusk took the lead on a Rossi point shot on the power play at 14:37, and just like that Vancouver turned an early deficit into a 2–1 lead.

That score lasted for a second, then everything took off. Boeser made it 3-1 just 4:28 into the third after taking a pass at the right point during an Anaheim power play and scoring short-handed on a breakaway. This should have been the goal of the breathing room.

However, Gauthier answered with a power-play finish of his own 37 seconds later, then Leo Karlsson tied it at 3–3 with a backhand from a sharp angle at 6:56. Suddenly, the ducks have the building back.

Gauthier became Anaheim’s first 40-goal scorer since Corey Perry in 2013-14, which tells you how big his night was for him.

NHL.com also noted that the Ducks have now lost seven of eight, even though they are in position to pick up a win soon. This is the cruel part for Anaheim. They were right there, at home, with a chance to close the door, and yet they let Vancouver linger long enough to be doomed late on.

Adam Foote said after the game that his group could have easily stopped pushing, but they didn’t, and it was true. After Anaheim tied, Vancouver held their own instead of letting the game slip away.

In overtime, Rossi got set up in the right circle and DeBrusk found him for the winner at 4:50. It was a clean finish and the game was over.

For the Canucks, this isn’t a huge turning point. I’m not going to pretend that it was. But it was another sign that the young pieces and fill-in guys are still giving this team something to work with.

On Tuesday night’s heartbreaker at Rogers Arena, Mason McTavish broke a 3-3 tie at 5:45 of the third period.

From that point the game slowly went away from the Vancouver Canucks, with Troy Terry adding an empty-netter with five seconds remaining to confirm the Anaheim Ducks’ 5–3 victory.

Anaheim got two goals from Mikael Granlund, three assists from John Carlson and 27 saves from Lucas Dostal for its third consecutive win.

Reuters reported that the Ducks have now extended their point streak to five games and recorded their 24th comeback win of the season, which is tied for the NHL lead. It’s all positive for Ducks fans.

better beginning, same end

Let’s cut to the chase: This wasn’t a bad loss for the Canucks. It was not flat or lifeless. Even Sportsnet said the Canucks’ effort was better than that of St. Louis and Tampa Bay, and the shot count backed it up. Anaheim was only ahead 34–30.

Still the same weakness continued to be visible. Too many Grade-A looks against, too many open ice, too many chances that cause Kevin Lankinen to work harder than he should.

At 5:45 of the first period, Jake DeBrusk opened the scoring after taking a pass from low on the power play and sweeping the puck across the crease and inside the far post.

Anaheim responded in the second when Alex Killorn scored at 5:26, then Granlund put the Ducks ahead at 7:50 by batting in a puck that went over Lankinen.

The Canucks pushed back. Brock Boeser tied it 2–2 on another power play at 13:13 when Filip Hronek sold a slap shot, stepped around Ryan Poehling and passed the puck. That assist gave Elias Pettersson his 500th NHL point, a nice stat on a night that still went down poorly.

the answer that hurt

Barely a minute went into the third when Granlund scored again on the power play after Anaheim’s lengthy 5-on-3 second period.

Drew O’Connor made the score 3–3 at 2:22, completing a rebound for his 17th goal and a new career high. For a moment, the Canucks look like they may have some inspiration.

However, the game changed when Cutter missed a breakaway moment before Gauthier McTavish came on the ice, took a return pass from Jackson LaCombe and scored his first goal in 15 games over Lankinen’s glove.

The Canucks did not back down and continued to push.

Regardless, the Canucks have now lost three in a row, 13 of their last 16, and were officially out of playoff contention as of last weekend.

The Ducks, on the other hand, are leading the Pacific and look like a team that has finally come out the other side of a long rebuild.

Phoenix Suns’ all-time franchise-leading scorer Devin Booker always has something new to wear by wearing a new PE (Player Exclusive) almost every night in the NBA with the promotion of his second signature Nike Buc 2 sneakers. During the month of March, Booker is observing one school in particular more often than others, and it’s not his Kentucky Wildcats.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Devin Booker has always been generous in providing Kentucky basketball fans with a first glimpse of his school’s colors on his signature sneakers, but Booker also has special colorways for schools like Michigan State, BYU, Texas, and most notably the Oregon Ducks. The Nike Book 1 featured several notable school colorways, but we saw a real effort to expand on the Nike Book 2 during this latest March Madness tournament.

The Oregon Ducks easily have the most color combinations and special editions of Nike sneakers and Booker is taking full advantage of it, offering three different colorways throughout the month of March.

Nike Book 2 “Oregon Ducks” PE Sneakers

Another: Devin Booker debuts the Nike Book 2 “Oregon Ducks” PE 🦆 @devinbook

📷 @sons pic.twitter.com/rL8d4n8RHH

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 9 March 2026

Devin Booker first introduced the Oregon Ducks Nike Book 2 in a neutral black/white colorway featuring a metallic gold Swoosh and a green “UO” logo on the rear heel. The Book 2 is largely inspired by the Nike Air Zoom Spiridon in its construction, fitted with a performance outsole for maximum comfort and stability.

Devin Booker in another Oregon Ducks PE colorway of the Nike Book 2 🦆📚 pic.twitter.com/l5aUpzecFe

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 17 March 2026

Devin Booker debuts another Oregon Ducks x Nike Book 2 PE 🦆📚 @devinbook

📷 @sons pic.twitter.com/x3aCze9d4B

– Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) 23 March 2026

The next colorway arrived as a “home” look with a white base and vintage green mudguard. The pair was this time complemented by the same metallic gold Swoosh and a gold UO logo. The final and most loud “alternative” pair was worn by Booker against the Toronto Raptors, featuring a bright yellow upper and green mudguard atop a white midsole. The Nike Swoosh was metallic silver with a green UO logo, arguably offering the cleanest look of the Nike Book 2.

For the rest of March, we’ll try to keep up with whatever Devin Booker has planned for the Nike Book 2 and what new schools we might see in the rotation. No word on an official release and it wouldn’t be surprising if these remain exclusive to Booker’s endless Nike sneaker collection.

The Montreal Canadiens host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night, looking to get back to their winning ways after last night’s disappointing loss.

Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup as a healthy scratch after watching Saturday’s game, with Zachary Bolduc taking his place in the press box. Arbor Zekaj replaced Jaden Struble on the blueline and rookie netminder Jacob Fowler was given his 12th start of the season.

There was also some misfortune on the injury front, as Kirby Dach was forced to leave the game after an injury to Jeffrey Viel in the first period.

It was a tight contest between two talented clubs, but in the end the Ducks emerged with a 4–3 win.

Let’s look at the highlights!

speed demon

With the Ducks leading 2–0, the Canadiens found their rhythm, starting with a great shot from Alex Newhook that was perfectly set up by phenom Lane Hutson.

It was Newhook’s 9th goal of the year, and it must be said that he has done a fantastic job since returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. For Hutson, it was his 56th assist of the year, which tells you everything you need to know about his impact on a nightly basis.

Hutson is a rising tide that lifts all boats.

Newhook gets a dime back for Hubs!

What a rocket of a shot. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/inLzSE7YLn

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

the usual suspects

The Canadiens kept the momentum going with another goal just over a minute later, as Cole Caufield scored for his 39th time of the season.

Once again, excellent play from a defender led to the goal, with Noah Dobson offering a perfect outlet pass that covered nearly 100 feet of ice. Dobson may not provide the offensive impact that Hutson does, few do, but there is no doubt that he has provided a game-changing presence for the Canadiens.

What a snipe from Caufield and the game is tied at two! pic.twitter.com/80wFr2nSPQ

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

puck protection

The Canadiens took the lead when Nick Suzuki scored his 23rd goal of the year, thanks to a great effort by Juraj Slafkowski to maintain control of the puck through the neutral zone. It’s the type of play Slafkowski would never have attempted a few years ago, but now that he’s found his rhythm in the NHL, he’s becoming a steady source of controlled exits and entries.

The Habs have scored three consecutive goals and now have a 3-2 lead over the Ducks! pic.twitter.com/GCmdUumyFX

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

late fall

Even though they struggled in the second period, the Ducks never relented, which ultimately led to Cutter Gauthier’s 34th goal of the year to give Anaheim a 4–3 lead with just a few minutes left in the third period.

To Fowler’s credit, he saved the day on several occasions before the goal. The Canadiens were frustrated by their poor defensive coverage, which has been a recurring theme this season.

What is nearby?

What is the goal?

Gauthier hit his 34th of the season to lead the Ducks to 4-3. pic.twitter.com/du8GnufvGK

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

In case you were sleeping, the Washington Capitals made a big move overnight. The Washington Capitals traded veteran defenseman and franchise veteran John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.

In exchange, the Capitals received a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL draft. The team also received a 2027 third-round pick.

Karlsson, 36, spent all 17 seasons of his NHL career with the Capitals. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,143), goals (166), assists (605), and points (771) among defensemen.

This season, Karlsson recorded 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists) in 55 games with the Capitals. The Natick, Massachusetts native will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Most notably, Karlsson helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup title in 2018. He led all defensemen in the playoffs with 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists) in 24 games played.

Karlsson was originally selected by the Capitals in the first round (27th overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft.

“Since joining our organization 17 years ago, John Carlson has exemplified what it means to be a Washington Capitals every day,” said general manager Chris Patrick. “John’s determination, leadership, tenacity and skill helped our franchise reach new heights and established him as a cornerstone and one of the greatest players in Capitals history.”

Karlsson is now the second major move made by the Capitals ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline. The team already sent Nick Dowd to Vegas on Thursday in exchange for picks and goaltending prospect Jesper Wickman.

This news from Carlson could also be a signal for 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin to retire after the 2025-26 season. As you can tell, the Capitals are focusing on developing young players.

The Capitals have a total of 22 picks in the next three drafts, including four first-round selections and nine picks in the first three rounds.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman