The Anaheim Ducks have turned their second-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights into a best-of-three showdown, thanks to a gritty 4-3 victory in Game 4 at a packed and electric Honda Center. After a disappointing loss in Game 3, the Ducks came out with renewed urgency, snapping a frustrating power-play drought that had plagued them throughout the series.
For the first time since Round 1, Anaheim's power play clicked when it mattered most. Rookie sensation Beckett Sennecke got things started just over eight minutes into the first period, unleashing a blistering slap shot from the right circle for his fourth goal of the playoffs. That strike ended a stretch of 21 consecutive penalty kills by Vegas, giving the Ducks the early 1-0 lead and a much-needed boost of confidence.
But as has been the case all series, the Golden Knights refused to back down. Pavel Dorofeyev answered back just 90 seconds later with a power-play goal of his own, tipping the puck past Ducks goaltender to even things up. The back-and-forth battle continued when Mikael Granlund restored Anaheim's lead late in the first period, banking a shot off Vegas forward Cole Smith's stick—a lucky deflection that fooled both defenseman Noah Hanifin and goalie Carter Hart.
True to form, the Golden Knights tied it again early in the second period through Brett Howden, setting the stage for Anaheim's special teams to shine once more. Alex Killorn delivered the decisive blow on the power play, burying his second goal of the series to put the Ducks ahead for good. Ian Moore added an insurance goal that proved crucial, as Vegas's Tomas Hertl scored late to make it a one-goal game. But Anaheim held firm, weathering a furious last-minute surge from the Golden Knights to secure the win and even the series at 2-2.
With the series now shifting back to Las Vegas for Game 5 on Tuesday, the Ducks have momentum on their side. The power play has found its rhythm, the physicality has returned, and the team is playing with the kind of desperation that defined their first-round victory over Edmonton. For fans watching at home, this is the kind of playoff hockey that makes every shift feel like a game-changer—and the kind of intensity that inspires players to dig deeper when it counts most.
