The Vegas Golden Knights exposed the Anaheim Ducks (16-14-8) during Wednesday nights 4-1 thumping at the Honda Center. At 24-9-2, the Knights have little to prove to the doubters that remain against them as they charge through their inaugural season like nobody before them.
Vegas has won five games in a row and are 9-0-1 in the last 10 games. The latter is a record breaking point streak for an expansion team. One of many they continue to shatter along the way.
But Vegas did more than just defeat the Ducks on their home ice. They did more than impress me (I was at the game). They did more than pad their lead in the Pacific Division.
What they did last night should be terrifying for Anaheim fans. What Vegas did was expose the Ducks for what they are - old, slow and sloppy.
Vegas tied the game late and after a slow first period in which they were outshot 15-8. Then they took over in the second and third. The offense came at Anaheim in waves, while halting the Ducks progress at center ice with each attempted rush. It was like an old prize fighter trying to squeeze out one more win against the hot up-and-comer. It was ugly.
After the game head coach Randy Carlyle said, "They frustrated us. We found ways to self-destruct." I feel like some of the blame needs to be directed at the coach himself. At some point, Carlyle himself, should have recognized that the dump-and-chase was not working.
Vegas won nearly every race to the puck and at some points it felt like there were 12 Knights on the ice. The Ducks didn't help their cause with careless defensive zone passes and turnovers. Hockey 101: DON'T PASS THE PUCK IN FRONT OF YOUR NET OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
Vegas, along with much of the league, is playing a fast, uptempo and relentless game. The Ducks seem resigned to slowing the game down and waiting for their opponent to make a mistake before they strike. That's how they scored the first goal of the game. Jakob Silfverberg forced a turnover behind the net and fed Rickard Rakell in front for Anaheim's lone goal. Sadly, that style of play is going the way of the neutral zone trap, the left-wing lock and of course, the dinosaurs. The Ducks can no longer hide behind previous success. Sports are a "What have you done for me lately" business.
It's becoming quite clear that any hope of a sixth consecutive Pacific Division title is no longer within reach for Anaheim. They trail Vegas by 10 points with three more games played. Five division titles in a row is nothing to sneeze at, BUT " Six in a row" just sounds cooler.
A few thoughts about the game:
- It was great to see Ryan Kelser back on the ice. The fans gave him a warm welcome when he was announced. I will admit it was painful to watch him take a stride at times. He is clearly working through the rust and I'm not sure how effective he is going to be for the Ducks moving forward. He finished the game a team-worst minus-3 in just over 16 mins of ice time.
- Adam Henrique looks like the guy New Jersey wanted to trade. He couldn't match the Devils new and improved style of play and he quickly became expendable. I saw why last night. He looked as unimpressive as the rest of his mates. Although he was one of just four Ducks with an even plus/minus, I left feeling really disappointed in what I saw.
Important to note: Henrique has only two points (1g 1a) in the last eight games and both points came in his return game to Jersey. He's a minus-2 over that span.
- Vegas is 3-0 against the Ducks and haven't lost to either Sharks or Kings this season. They are 5-0 against teams from California. That's....that's.. pretty scary.
- Rickard Rakell leads the Ducks with 11 goals. He's tallied in three consecutive games and he is definitely Anaheim's best scorer right now. Please find a way to feed this guys pucks all game long.
- The game was a sellout. It was relatively quite for most of the game - except when Vegas scored. It was evident they had a good contingent of fans in the crowd, which left me wondering to myself.."How does Vegas have this many fans, this fast?" I guess winning will do that for a team.
- The final score was 4-1, but it could easily have been 5, 6, even 7-1 had it not been for John Gibson. Gibby made 24 saves in the loss. He deserved better.
The Ducks next game is Friday vs. the Calgary Flames. It's the Flames first game back at Honda Center since snapping that ridiculous 29-game losing streak there.
Thanks for reading, Steve