The Anaheim Ducks breathed new life into their playoff run on Sunday, evening their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a gritty 4-3 victory in Game 4. After a demoralizing 6-2 loss in Game 3 that left them trailing 2-1 in the series, the Ducks knew they needed a spark—and they found it through a revitalized power play and some strategic lineup changes.
Head coach Greg Cronin made two key adjustments that paid immediate dividends. Mason McTavish was reinserted into the lineup on his familiar left wing alongside Ryan Poehling and Cutter Gauthier, injecting fresh energy into the forward corps. On the blue line, the coach opted for mobility over size, placing Ian Moore on the bottom pair next to Olen Zellweger—who made his playoff debut after a month-long absence—to replace the injured Drew Helleson.
The Golden Knights, meanwhile, were dealt their own blow. Captain Mark Stone was ruled out after leaving Game 3 early with a lower-body injury, forcing head coach John Tortorella to shuffle his lines. Brandon Saad stepped into the lineup, but Vegas clearly missed Stone's two-way presence.
In net, Lukas Dostal got the nod again after being pulled in the first period of Game 3. He rebounded with a steady performance, stopping 18 of 21 shots. On the other end, Carter Hart made 19 saves on 23 shots for Vegas.
From the opening faceoff, the Ducks showed they were better prepared than in their previous outing. Neither team dominated at 5-on-5, but Anaheim's power play—which had been stagnant—came alive at the perfect moment. The man advantage moved the puck with creativity and aggression, creating scoring chances that had been missing in the first three games.
As expected, the game carried the emotional weight of a playoff battle. Tempers flared, liberties were taken, and the animosity between these two Pacific Division rivals was on full display. Vegas tried to physically intimidate Anaheim's young stars—Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and the newly inserted McTavish—but the Ducks refused to back down.
With the series now tied 2-2, momentum has shifted back to Anaheim. The Ducks proved they can not only withstand Vegas's physical onslaught but also counter with a more creative and aggressive offensive attack. Game 5 awaits in Vegas, and the Ducks have given themselves every reason to believe they can steal back home-ice advantage.