LAS VEGAS – The Ducks beat Golden Knights 4-3 in their season opener Friday night, building a 4-0 lead and holding on through a third-period rally at T-Mobile Arena. Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves.
Vegas, which won its own opener 5-2 over Chicago on Thursday, scored all three of its goals in the third period.
How the Ducks beat Golden Knights early
Beckett Sennecke scored on a breakaway with eight seconds left in the first period after a long pass from Carlsson. Alex Killorn redirected Noah Warren’s point shot at 1:33 of the second period. Warren earned his first NHL point in his debut, according to NHL.com.
Jeff Malott made it 3-0 at 2:28 when the puck deflected off his skate and through goalie Carter Hart’s legs. Carlsson finished a rebound at 7:03 for a 4-0 lead. Hart finished with 16 saves.
Vegas rallies in the third period
Shea Theodore beat Dostal at the far post at 4:38 of the third. Anaheim challenged for offside and lost, which cost the Ducks a delay-of-game penalty.
Tomas Hertl then scored on the power play at 6:07 to make it 4-2. Braeden Bowman cut the lead to one with 2:50 left, and Vegas pulled Hart for an extra attacker with 2:15 remaining. Dostal and the Ducks held on.
What it means for Anaheim
Carlsson was the Ducks’ top performer, setting up the first goal and scoring the fourth. The Ducks and Vegas also met in a playoff series last spring.
We also looked at the goalie questions before the opener and at defenseman Tristan Luneau’s contract.
What’s next
The Ducks host Florida on Sunday. The Golden Knights visit Vancouver on Sunday night.
