The Ducks were left frustrated after a controversial non-icing call led to the Golden Knights’ game-winning goal in Game 1 of their Second Round series on May 5, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Brett Howden opened the scoring for the Golden Knights at 3:14 in the second period. Mikael Granlund tied the game for the Ducks with just 6:03 remaining in the third period. However, Ivan Barbashev scored the decisive goal for the Golden Knights with only 4:58 left in regulation. Mitch Marner sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Carter Hart performed well, making 33 saves on 34 shots, achieving a .971 save percentage. His efforts kept the Ducks competitive throughout the match.
Key statistics:
- The final score was Golden Knights 3, Ducks 1.
- The attendance at T-Mobile Arena was reported at 17.
- The Golden Knights improved their Game 1 record to 13-7 since the start of their playoff history.
Joel Quenneville expressed his displeasure with the non-icing call that led to Barbashev’s goal. He stated, “Clearly, I disagreed with the call. And it was clearly icing.” Meanwhile, John Tortorella praised Hart’s performance, saying, “He was our best player tonight.” Jackson LaCombe commented on his early play that contributed to the situation: “I didn’t see it in time and just made the play too early.”
Game 2 is scheduled for May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. The Ducks will look to bounce back from this tough loss as they continue their playoff journey.
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