Golden Knights Strike Late to Take Game 1 Over Ducks in Second-Round Opener

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Golden Knights Strike Late to Take Game 1 Over Ducks in Second-Round Opener

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated May 5, 2026 11:10 AM ET

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights wasted no time setting the tone in Round 2. A late third-period goal from Ivan Barbashev lifted Vegas to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at T-Mobile Arena.

With the game tied late, Vegas capitalized on hustle and execution. After Jack Eichel beat out an icing play, Pavel Dorofeyev gained possession and sliced through two defenders before threading a perfect cross-crease pass.

Barbashev finished the play at the left post, giving Vegas a 2-1 lead with just under five minutes remaining. Mitch Marner added an empty-net goal with six seconds left to secure the 3-1 final and give Vegas a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

VEGAS CASHES IN A WIN AT HOME

Image | Source: Dice City Sports

The Golden Knights lead the series against the Ducks 1-0. pic.twitter.com/ed20TYXeI6

— ESPN (@espn) May 5, 2026

Howden Stays Hot

Brett Howden continued his strong postseason, scoring for the fourth consecutive game. He opened the scoring early in the second period, finishing a backdoor feed from Marner to put Vegas ahead 1-0.

Anaheim had chances to swing momentum but couldn’t capitalize. A key moment came midway through the second period when Jackson LaCombe passed up a wide-open net, instead attempting a pass that never connected.

The Ducks eventually tied the game late in the third when Mikael Granlund buried a rebound off a drive to the net. But the equalizer didn’t last long.

Carter Hart was sharp once again, stopping 33 shots and anchoring Vegas defensively. On the other side, Lukas Dostal made 19 saves but couldn’t withstand the late push.

The top-seeded Golden Knights showed composure and depth, responding quickly after surrendering the tying goal and closing out the game in front of their home crowd.

For the Ducks, the margin for error is already thin and missed opportunities like Game 1 could prove costly. Vegas Golden Knights didn’t dominate. They executed. And in the playoffs, that’s often the difference.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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