The Anaheim Ducks look to tie their playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2, following a loss earlier this week. The game is scheduled for May 6 at 6:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
Anaheim lost the first game of the series to Vegas by a score of 3-1. Mikael Granlund scored in the third period to even the game, but Vegas regained the lead shortly after and added an empty-net goal for a two-goal win. “I don’t mind the way we played,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “We had a lot of pace. Both teams worked hard. It’s a heck of a hockey game. … I don’t think we had the quantity or the quality we had in the last series, but we did have enough to score more than one.”
Despite falling behind early in this round, Anaheim has experience rebounding from similar situations, having come back after losing Game 1 against Edmonton in their previous series and eventually winning three straight games before clinching that round in six games.
Ryan Poehling commented on how the team approaches being down early: “Even throughout the year how our games have gone, you’re down a couple of goals and you can’t get frustrated,” Poehling said. “I think you can do the same with a series. You’re down 1-0 but you gotta get to four. So for us to just kind of play from behind in a sense [in a series,] I think it’s kind of the same as a game.”
Quenneville outlined adjustments needed for Game 2: “We gotta get more pucks to the net,” he said when asked about strategy for tonight’s matchup. “We gotta definitely have more bodies at the net. I know we say that all the time, but we did get some shots at the net, but I think (Carter Hart) saw a lot of them. I think we got to make them do some different things, but he had a good game and we’ve got to make sure it’s not as easy for him to find the puck.”
In other team news ahead of Game 2, Radko Gudas remains out with an injury though he is making progress toward returning.
Additionally, Beckett Sennecke was announced as one of three finalists for this season’s Calder Trophy after recording 60 points during his rookie campaign with Anaheim—making him only fourth player in franchise history named as Calder finalist.
Reflecting on his first professional season and postseason run so far Sennecke said: “I learned a ton this year both on and off the ice and I’m super fortunate that they gave me opportunity.” Quenneville also praised Sennecke’s performance: “He had tremendous year,” Quenneville said of rookie forward.”He makes lot plays that you don’t see very often … I just think that his upside talent is tremendous.The unpredictability gives defense opponents something think about.”
