The series between the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights stood at a pivotal 2‑2 deadlock heading into Game 5, with the winner taking a decisive lead in the best‑of‑seven matchup. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Anaheim, setting the stage for a potential swing in momentum.
A Milestone Moment
Olen Zellweger etched his name into the Ducks' playoff history by scoring his first career postseason goal, a timely strike that knotted the game at two and forced the contest into overtime.
Earlier in the third period, Tomas Hertl broke a 29‑game goal drought by opening the scoring for Vegas, but the Ducks answered back with a power‑play marker from Beckett Sennecke, extending his own scoring streak to four games.
The offensive output was bolstered by strong playmaking from Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, each dishing out two assists, while goaltender Lukas Dostal turned in 25 saves to keep the Ducks in the game.
On the other side, Carter Hart made 34 stops for the Golden Knights, but a five‑minute major for interference against Brayden McNabb saw the veteran defenseman ejected and Ryan Poehling forced off the ice after a heavy check.
Pavel Dorofeyev also contributed a power‑play goal in the first period, adding depth to a Vegas attack that had been dormant for much of the night.
With the series now tied, Game 6 is slated for Thursday in Anaheim, promising another high‑stakes showdown as both teams look to seize momentum heading into the next round.