Ducks Make Their Chances Count in Vegas
Gauthier’s post and LaCombe’s heavy lift back Dostal as Anaheim wins 4-3.
Vegas drove the game but Anaheim walked out with a 4-3 win because the Ducks’ few looks were premium and landed at the right moments. The Golden Knights had more shot attempts and more shots (VGK 30, ANA 20), yet Anaheim’s best chances carried extra bite.
The clearest swing: Cutter Gauthier hammered iron once — a near-goal graded at 0.56 iron xG — and kept creating from prime spots. On the back end, Jackson LaCombe was Anaheim’s quiet hinge: he played 29:37 and personally threatened with 0.93 individual expected goals — a defender generating forward-quality looks — while also helping the Ducks survive long Vegas pushes.
In net, Lukas Dostal made the saves Anaheim needed (27 on 30), especially on tougher chances, while Carter Hart had a harder night despite facing fewer shots (16 on 20). For Vegas, Tomas Hertl produced their most dangerous looks and Jack Eichel drove offense, but the bounces and finishes leaned Anaheim.
What it means: VGK controlled the flow but must turn that control into finishes. ANA can bank confidence that timely finishing and a composed goalie/blue-line spine can mask being out-chanced — at least for a night.