The Vegas Golden Knights (10-4-7) fell 4-3 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks (14-7-1) Saturday night at Honda Center. The loss came exactly two weeks after the Ducks secured an identical 4-3 overtime win at T-Mobile Arena.
The two clubs combined for five goals in a wild first period, but a turnover behind the net led to Cutter Gauthier’s game-winner 3:57 into overtime.
Vegas was able to extend its point streak to six games, but this marked the seventh time the Golden Knights have lost in extra time this year, with only one of those games reaching a shootout.
On a night when both goaltenders made some excellent saves, the game was wide open in the opening frame.
Vegas got things started by jumping out to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes in.
First, a Shea Theodore blast from the point found its way through traffic and into the back of the cage to give the Golden Knights the early lead.
Just 72 seconds later, Braeden Bowman scored his fourth goal of the year in just his sixth career game, giving him goals in three straight.
But the Ducks answered with a quick-strike response of their own, potting two goals in the span of just 34 seconds. Two of Anaheim’s young defenders were responsible for the tallies, with Jackson LaCombe launching a rocket at 7:43, followed closely by Owen Zellweger’s third of the year at 8:17.
The Golden Knights responded on the power play to grab a one-goal lead before the end of the period. Tomas Hertl got a piece of Jack Eichel’s shot from the top of the zone to make it a 3-2 game with just 2:01 on the clock. It was Hertl’s ninth goal of the season.
As the game progressed, Akira Schmid came up with some massive stops, including two on Chris Kreider, to keep Anaheim in check. He was matched at the other end of the rink by Lukas Dostal, who was able to take care of Vegas’ limited but dangerous opportunities in the second period.
The Golden Knights had four power plays through the first half of the game but were only able to capitalize on Hertl’s goal late in the first.
But a minute after Anaheim killed off the last of those opportunities, Troy Terry beat Schmid on a 2-on-1 to make it a 3-3 game at 13:50 of the middle frame.
The Ducks were the better team in the second period despite taking two more penalties, and it was their transition game that helped them even things up going into the third.
But neither team was able to score the go-ahead goal, setting up the second straight overtime contest between these two teams.
Once again, Vegas came up short.
A brutal turnover by Mitch Marner behind the net put the puck on the stick of Gauthier, who immediately turned around and fired it into the net for the win.
It was a sudden finish to an exciting overtime, but Anaheim made Vegas pay for the unforced error.
Eichel had himself a game, as he was on another level for most of the contest. He assisted on two of the first-period goals and was a menace in all three zones. He finished with the third-highest ice time on the team with 21:45, trailing only Theodore (25:39) and Noah Hanifin (22:59).
He wasn’t alone, as Bowman had another particularly impressive game. Not only did he score for the third straight game, but he made some solid stick plays and continues to excel comfortably on the top line.
However, it wasn’t enough to earn the extra point.
It was hardly Eichel’s fault (or Schmid’s) that Marner turned the puck over, but the Golden Knights — as a team — continue to struggle mightily after regulation. In fact, Vegas is now 1-6 in overtime, which doesn’t include the shootout loss to the Kings in the season opener. Four of those six losses have come this month, with two coming against the Pacific Division-leading Ducks.
Notably, the Golden Knights have lost their last six overtime games in a row. Those six points would pull them even with the first-place Avalanche. Half of those points would put them in first place in the division.
It comes down to puck management. It was a careless and unnecessary turnover by Marner, who was under no pressure. He simply coughed up the puck, and it ended the game. The Golden Knights have to do a better job, as it wasn’t the first time that poor puck management led to game-winning goals for the opposition.
Fortunately for the Golden Knights, 3-on-3 overtime is not used in the playoffs, but the Golden Knights cannot continue to leave points on the table.
Schmid suffered his fourth loss of the season (9-1-3), giving up four goals on 33 shots for an .879 save percentage. He made some key saves, but Dostal was better.
The Golden Knights have earned three of a possible four points on this road trip, which wraps up Monday in Utah.