The Anaheim Ducks head to Las Vegas for Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the series tied at two games each, according to a May 12 announcement. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
The matchup comes after Anaheim’s narrow 4-3 victory over Vegas, which followed a loss in the previous game. This win marked Anaheim’s fourth consecutive playoff victory following a defeat, highlighting their resilience during this postseason run.
Cutter Gauthier made franchise history by recording three assists in a single postseason game, while Beckett Sennecke scored his third goal in as many games. The Ducks also managed their first power play goals of the series, ending Vegas’ streak of killing off 21 consecutive penalties.
Reflecting on the significance of Sunday’s win, Troy Terry said: “I think it was probably the first time our backs were really against the wall. No matter what the situation’s been, I’ve loved how we’ve responded. I thought we did that for the most part in the regular season … Whether we’re losing in games, whatever the case is, it feels like we just have an ability to respond and that’s what’s been awesome the whole playoffs.”
Looking ahead to Game 5, head coach Joel Quenneville said: “We want to make sure we’re ready from the start. They’re a good starting team and good with the lead. I thought we did a good job of scoring early last game and not letting them get back into it. We’ll try and emphasize the importance of tonight’s start and rising to the challenge of another battle.” Terry added about his playoff experience: “You can almost exhaust yourself mentally just like, ‘Oh, we’re the best team in the NHL right now. We just beat Vegas,’ and then all of a sudden you lose by four,” he said. “So just trying mentally and physically to stay a little even keel.”
In other news this morning, Pat Verbeek was named as one of three finalists for this year’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award by NHL officials—his first nomination and only second ever for an Anaheim Ducks general manager since inception.
Verbeek commented on his nomination: “It’s an extreme honor, but the job’s not done. Obviously there is lots to do,” Verbeek said. “I think this award is really an organizational award. You look at our coaching staff, our staff in San Diego, our development people, our scouts. Everybody has had a hand in this scenario… My name’s to it but ultimately that’s what it boils down to.”
