Ducks News and Notes: Playoffs Round Two

The Anaheim Ducks played a tough, gritty, and exciting first round in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In six games against the Edmonton Oilers, they put up an astonishing 30 goals. Unexpected players stepped up to contribute to the team’s success, and they ultimately came out on top to advance to the second round.

They began their series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night, where they fell 3-1 to the home team. Let’s take a look at that game, as well as other notes and happenings around the team.

A Loss in Game One

After the excitement of the first round, the Ducks were buzzing and fans were ecstatic to see how well they would show up against the Golden Knights. Unfortunately, the team was nothing short of disappointing in the series opener. The entire first period passed without a goal from either team, and only Brett Howden of Vegas scored in the second period.

This is a stark contrast from the first round’s offensive pace , where they did not score fewer than four goals in any game. Despite 34 shots on goal, Anaheim could not quite solve the puzzle that was Carter Hart. Mikael Granlund did slip one past him in the third period, but Ivan Barbashev scored the game-winner after.

The Golden Knights are a familiar opponent whom the Ducks play often. This season, they won two of the three regular-season meetings between the teams. However, they have not yet experienced their rival under the leadership of head coach John Tortorella, who was hired on March 29. They also did not face goaltender Hart in the regular season. They will need to get familiar with this new system quickly if they want to vanquish the Golden Knights and head to the Western Conference Final.

LaCombe Becoming the Team’s MVP

Defenseman Jackson LaCombe is quickly shaping himself into the team’s best player this postseason and could be critical to winning this series. He has always been a two-way player, but he is really showcasing his offensive-mindedness in each game. LaCombe is operating at an impressive clip, averaging more than a point-per-game (10 points in seven). He has scored once, but his offensive abilities shine in his playmaking skills.