Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Anaheim Ducks, a fast-skating team with skilled offensive players, are known for outscoring teams.
On Wednesday night, the Ducks played an old-school defensive playoff game and came away with a 3-1 win over VGK in Game 2 of the Best-of-7 Round 2 series and a split of the first two games in Las Vegas.
Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said the Game 2 win was one of the Ducks’ best defensive performances of the season as goalie Lukas Dostal played steady throughout and Anaheim was solid defensively for all 200 feet of the ice.
“You have to win games like this (in the playoffs) tonight,” the veteran Quenneville said in his postgame presser.
In contrast, Vegas coach John Tortorella said, “We got things to work on. We had ‘almost plays.’ ”
Tortorella said the VGK “need to have the puck more in their end.”
I have full trust we’ll find our way — VGK coach John Tortorella
The Ducks, stymied by the red-hot goaltending of VGK netminder Carter Hart for a game and a half, broke through in the second period to take a 1-0 lead.
Beckett Sennecke, a 20-year-old Calder rookie-of-the-year finalist, cracked the ice for Anaheim with a goal from in right in front of the VGK net.
The Knights won Game 1, 3-1, even thought everyone agreed the VGK were outplayed.
Anaheim enjoyed an edge in play in Game 2 before an announced attendance of 18,018, but both netminders were on point tonight at T-Mobile Arena. The Ducks had a 5-on-3 power play as part of an extended power play in the first period and could not score. The VGK’s ability to shut down power plays has been exceptional in the postseason.
Anaheim star Leo Carlson scored for a 2-0 Ducks lead in the third, then Jansen Harkins polished off VGK with an empty-netter.
VGK captain Mark Stone scored a garbage time goal with 5.6 seconds left.
Final: Anaheim 3 Vegas 1 — and the series is tied, 1-1, with Game 3 and Game 4 in Anaheim Friday and Sunday.
Extra puck news: The Hyde Lounge at T-Mobile Arena is now the Tower Club at VGK home games and it’s being run by a different management company.