Finding a goal in Game 2 proved as difficult as finding a single-zero roulette wheel in a Vegas casino for the Vegas Golden Knights (1-1), falling 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks (1-1) on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. Great play from Anaheim goaltender Lucas Dostal and two missed defensive assignments by the Golden Knights, which led directly to Anaheim goals, proved to be the difference in the game.

Although the first period was scoreless, it was not due to lack of opportunities. Anaheim had a golden opportunity to score the game’s first goal early in the first period when the Golden Knights took four consecutive penalties. First, Tomas Hertl was assessed a two-minute minor for high-sticking John Carlson at 3:14, then Mitch Marner was whistled for delay of game for shooting the puck out of play, and then just when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse for the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel took a double-minor for high-sticking Mikael Granlund at 5:33.

The Anaheim power play shot an astonishing 50% in the first round against Edmonton, but went 0-4 in Game 1 and then went 0-4 on four consecutive first period chances in Game 2. The Golden Knights’ penalty kill was so effective that Anaheim recorded zero shots during a combined 1:42 of 5-on-3 play. The Golden Knights penalty kill has been stellar so far in the playoffs, boasting a 95% success rate before an ideal five-on-five performance in Game 2.

Besides the Golden Knights’ penalty kill, the other storyline of the first period was shot inconsistency. The Golden Knights went 12+ minutes without a shot, including a two-minute power play opportunity where they did not attempt a single shot. The Golden Knights recorded a shot from Hertl at 16:46 of the first and did not get another shot until Ben Hutton had a shot on goal at 3:57. Overall, the Golden Knights were outshot 13-4 in the first.

The Golden Knights may have noticed the shot inconsistency in the first because they came out firing in the second, recording three shots on goal in the first minute of the frame and outscoring Anaheim 11-7 in the period. Despite the Golden Knights taking a greater amount of shots in the second period, it would be Anaheim who would get the first goal of the game. A defensive lapse by the Golden Knights left rookie Beckett Seneca (2) open in front of their net, allowing him to receive a Jeffrey Wiel pass from below the goal line and he immediately took the puck, beating Golden Knights netminder Carter Hart to his blocking side at 11:23 of the second. It was only the second time in eight playoff games that Anaheim scored the first goal of the game.

With exactly two minutes left in the second, Anaheim got its fifth power play opportunity and a chance to take a two-goal lead, but the Golden Knights penalty kill once again came into play and the score remained 1–0 heading into the third period.

Another missed defensive assignment by the Golden Knights gave the Ducks an elusive two-goal lead at 6:36 of the third. Leo Karlsson (4) was left alone in front of the Golden Knights net and was able to receive a beautiful backhand, cross-ice pass from Troy Terry and chip the puck up and over the glove Hart, who had no chance to make the play.

The Golden Knights got their third power play chance of the game with 8:23 left in regulation and nearly scored on a wild scramble in front of the Anaheim net. With Dostel stretched flat on the ice, exposing a wide-open net, Ducks forward Mikael Granlund made a glove save on the Golden Knights’ shot attempt, destroying what little momentum the Golden Knights had generated from the man-advantage.

Trailing by two, the Golden Knights pulled Hart for an extra attacker with four minutes remaining in regulation, but Anaheim immediately scored into an empty net to take a 3–0 lead. Just when a shutout seemed inevitable for Anaheim, the Golden Knights got a late power play, during which Mark Stone (3) deflected an Eichel shot with just six seconds remaining, ruining Dostal’s shutout bid, which would have been Anaheim’s first shutout all season.

With the series now tied at 1-1, the venue will change to the Honda Center with Game 3 taking place on Friday night.

notes

Dating back to the regular season, Tomas Hertl has now played 28 games without scoring a goal.

Ivan Barbashev’s seven-game playoff points streak was snapped.

figures

Shots on goal for the game favored the Ducks, 28–22.

The number of hits each was even at 39.

Faceoff winning percentage favored the Golden Knights 63.2% to 36.8%.

Blocked shots favored the Golden Knights 19-14.

The Golden Knights had 19 rebounds, while the Ducks had 15.

leicester city The scout was at FC Porto’s 2-0 win over Tondela on Sunday. However, it didn’t feel like a trip built around Porto’s major names.

record It was reported that Leicester was one of three English clubs represented at the Dragão, along with Stoke City and Wolverhampton. However, Fox isn’t buying from a position of comfort just yet.

Sitting 23rd in the Championship table after 43 matches and in real danger of dropping into League One, it changes the type of market they can realistically attack.

Porto still offers obvious quality. Gabriel Veiga changed the match from the bench, Victor Frohold scored again and Rodrigo Mora was one of the more lively players before the break.

However, these are names that top-flight clubs would also have written down. Froholdt has now scored in consecutive league matches, while Veiga’s profile has long been well ahead of the English second-tier side.

That’s the glamorous end of The Notebook. The more useful Leicester section could start on Tondela’s side.

Tondela looks like a more realistic market

If Leicester City are making summer plans based on financial caution and the prospect of third-tier football, Tondela’s team makes more sense.

One who stands out is Bernardo Fontes. The 23-year-old Brazilian-born goalkeeper, who holds Italian citizenship, saved a penalty and prevented a major loss.

He has been Tondela’s most consistent pillar this season, with over 20 league appearances, and already has a strong reputation by being named Liga Portugal’s second goalkeeper of the year in 2024–25.

Rodrigo Conceição is another man who fits into the more realistic Leicester conversation. He is 26 years old and has experience at right-back, including time spent with Portugal’s youth national teams. He is not a high-profile target, but he is a viable target for a club in need of reliability.

Brian Medina offers a different profile. The 24-year-old Colombian centre-back is left-footed, stands around 1.95 metres, and has already shown strong defensive numbers this season.

Juanes Rodriguez is more of a developmental bet. The 20-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder is on loan from LDU Quito. He mainly plays as a defensive midfielder. He is still in the early stages of his career. Nevertheless, his performances at this level keep him on the radar for clubs looking to build ahead of schedule.

There was also a name on the teamsheet that might have surprised some people. Joe Hodge stood in midfield for Tondela. As has been the case this season, he looked absolutely at home there.

Still only 23 years of age, he has carved out a regular starting role and has become one of the key parts in Tondela’s midfield structure. His path to this point has already been pretty well covered. He developed in the academies of Manchester City and Wolverhampton. After that, he stepped up to senior football with Wolves and spent time on loan at QPR and Huddersfield.

Tondela secured him from Wolves for a relatively modest fee, and now it looks like smart business. He brings consistency and experience at different levels of English football. Plus, he also brings the added bonus of counting as a domestic player in England. All of this makes him a very practical profile for clubs looking for reliable options rather than high-risk bets.

Porto’s names attract attention, but Tondela fits the reality

This is probably the main takeaway from a visit to Leicester City.

Yes, there was more attainable talent on display in Porto. Left-back Alberto Costa and young striker Deniz Gul could fall into the “cheaper” bracket compared to Veiga, Mora and Frohold. Still, if Leicester are indeed preparing for a tough summer, Tondela looks far more aligned with their situation.

Bernardo Fontes is at the forefront in that regard. He combines performance, consistency and timing. For a club in need of value and advancement, that seems like the kind of opportunity that won’t be available for a long time.

Ultimately it may be about identifying gems before others. In that sense, Tondela’s team may prove to be a more important achievement than this trip.