Ducks to play Golden Knights or Mammoth in 2nd spherical of Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Golden Knights lead their best-of-7 sequence towards the Mammoth 3-2 coming into Game 6 at Utah on Friday (10 p.m. ET; Utah16, SCRIPPS, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360, SN). 

“We’ve got a taste of playoff hockey,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville mentioned. “Now, we get to experience another round, and I think this is healthy for us. We’ve got a young group that’s still … you don’t know how they’re going to play, but you’re certainly excited about what the upside is.”

The Ducks, the No. 3 seed within the Pacific Division, would have home-ice benefit within the best-of-7 sequence towards the Mammoth, the primary wild card within the West, however would open on the highway towards the Golden Knights, the No. 1 seed within the Pacific.

Anaheim has by no means performed Vegas or Utah within the playoffs.

“Every game, every series has a new challenge, and from that all kinds of different variations that happen in the course of the first game to the next game to the next game,” Quenneville mentioned. “We’ve got four lines deep and six to eight defensemen ready to play. All the options are available. We’ll see how our opponent stacks up and look to see (the Utah-Vegas Game 6), and we’ll see what happens in the next one or two games.”

Defenseman Jackson LaCombe led the Ducks within the first spherical with 9 factors (one purpose, eight assists). Forwards Troy Terry (three objectives, 5 assists) and Leo Carlsson (three objectives, 5 assists) every had eight factors.

“We know which two groups it is between. We know them properly. It’s going to be a enjoyable sequence both method,” Carlsson mentioned 

Goalie Lukas Dostal was 4-2 with a 3.87 goals-against common and .874 save share within the first spherical. Ville Husso stopped 10 of 11 pictures he confronted after Dostal was pulled within the first interval of Game 5.

The Ducks had been 2-1-0 towards the Mammoth within the common season. Alex Killorn had 5 factors (one purpose, 4 assists), and 6 different gamers scored one purpose every, together with ahead Ryan Poehling and Cutter Gauthier, who every had a purpose and an help.

Dostal was 2-0-0, permitting three objectives on 48 pictures in two video games (1.50 GAA, .938 save share), and Husso allowed 4 objectives on 21 pictures earlier than getting pulled in his solely begin, a 7-0 loss on Dec. 3.

Forward JJ Peterka led the Mammoth towards the Ducks within the common season with 5 factors (two objectives, three assists), and ahead Dylan Guenther had 4 factors (three objectives, one help). Forwards Clayton Keller (one purpose, two assists) and Nick Schmaltz (three assists) every had three factors.

Goalie Karel Vejmelka was 1-0-1 with a 1.48 GAA, .943 save share and one shutout in two video games. He made 27 saves within the 7-0 win on Dec. 3. Vitek Vanecek was 0-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .909 save share.

The Ducks had been 3-0-0 towards the Golden Knights this season. Defenseman Jacob Trouba and Terry every had 5 factors (one purpose, 4 assists) to guide the Ducks towards the Golden Knights. Forward Chris Kreider, Gauthier and Carlsson every scored two objectives.

Dostal was 2-0-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .905 save share, and Petr Mrazek, who had season-ending hip surgical procedure in February, allowed three objectives on 39 pictures in a 4-3 additional time win on Nov. 8. Husso didn’t face the Golden Knights this season.

For the Golden Knights, ahead Jack Eichel had 4 assists towards the Ducks, and ahead Ivan Barbashev had three factors (one purpose, two assists). Forward Tomas Hertl scored two objectives.

Akira Schmid was 0-0-2 with a 3.75 GAA and .871 save share, and Adin Hill was 0-1-0 with a 3.08 GAA and .864 save share. Carter Hart, who has began all 5 playoff video games for Vegas, didn’t face the Ducks within the common season.