Ducks’ losing streak stretches to seven games in shutout loss to Vegas
William Karlsson had a goal and an assist, Logan Thompson made 29 saves and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Ducks 4-0 in a Friday matinee commemorating Nevada Day.
Thompson had his second shutout of the season and third overall to help Western Conference-leading Vegas improve to 7-2-0. Karlsson had his third multi-point game of the season.
Chandler Stephenson, Reilly Smith and Nic Roy also scored. Vegas has scored at least four goals five times, while it has allowed two or fewer goals six times.
“That’s a team win, right? They’re making my job really easy,” Thompson said. “I can’t credit the guys enough for blocking everything and just making my life pretty easy out there. Since the start of the season I think you’ve seen how good we’ve been defensively, I think it’s pretty evident.
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brandon Hagel scored the tiebreaking power-play goal late to extend the Ducks’ winless steak to six in the 4-2 loss on Wednesday.
“We don’t usually give up high-danger scoring chances and I think that’s the case tonight. Yeah, 29 shots, but I think they were all from the outside, I was able to get my sticks on it and hand on it. Credit to the team and the system, it’s been killing it all year so far.”
To Thompson’s point, the Golden Knights outdistanced Anaheim in high-danger chances, 12-7, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
“I think that’s an identity we want, we want that to be our reputation around the league, that hey these guys, when we come into the Fortress, you’re not getting much — and then anywhere we play for that matter — all of a sudden it can really help your offensive game,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We have good offensive players, I think that’s the most important thing. When the puck’s on our stick with time and space we can make some plays and finish.
Ducks goaltender John Gibson made 14 saves in two periods, and Anthony Stolarz stopped three shots in the third. Gibson has 15 losses to the Knights, six more than any other goaltender. Vegas is 21-4-0 against Anaheim.
Since a 5-4 overtime victory over Seattle in the opener, the Ducks have lost seven straight to drop to 1-6-1.
“We talked about their starts, I think in four or five games this year they had scored the first goal in the first five minutes of the game,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. “The start of the game I thought was fine until we decided to turn a couple of pucks over. When you do that, heart rates are high, you’re into a long shift, and that’s when they get their action. I thought the first part of it we managed it well till we made a couple of mental mistakes, which just feeds into a veteran team like that.”
With Anaheim’s Ryan Strome in the penalty box for a shot to Mark Stone after referees stepped in to break up a scrum, Stephenson skated across the crease and slipped the puck through Gibson’s pads to put Vegas in front 1-0 late in the first period.
Shortly after several heated exchanges midway through the second, and Vegas skating short-handed, Karlsson skated down the left side before sending a perfect pass to a trailing Smith, who beat Gibson with a one-timer to notch his 100th goal as a member of the Golden Knights.
Trevor Zegras scores, but it’s not enough to help the Ducks as their road woes continue in a 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Later in the period, it was Karlsson with the nifty redirect after linemate Jonathan Marchessault skated the puck to the top of the right circle and fired a shot toward Gibson. Karlsson’s deflection beat Gibson over his glove, and Roy put it out of reach with less than a minute left in the second period, when he raced in untouched.
For Karlsson, it’s been a bit of a coming out party, with four goals and three assists in the first nine games — the fastest start of his career.
“Last year, I wasn’t happy with my performance so I wanted to go out and prove to myself that I could be a good hockey player,” Karlsson said. “Two ingredients when you’re playing hockey, confidence and having fun, that’s when you play your best.”
Note: After being checked into the boards by Vegas’ William Carrier in the second period, Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale left the game and did not return.
Up next for the Ducks: vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs at Honda Center on Sunday at 5 p.m. PDT.
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