Full Breakdown
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks: Game 4 Preview and Key Injuries
5/11/2026, 5:05:39 AM
Series Overview & Stakes
The Western Conference semifinals are tied at 2-1 in favor of the Vegas Golden Knights as they head to the Honda Center for Game 4 on Sunday, May 10. A win would give Vegas a 3-1 series lead and place the Ducks on the brink of elimination; a Ducks victory would even the series and restore momentum to a team that has struggled to contain Vegas’s special-teams play.
Recent Developments
Game 3 ended in a 6-2 rout for Vegas. Mitch Marner recorded a natural hat-trick, Jack Eichel drove transition, and Shea Theodore’s early goal set the tone. The Knights “finally found the version of themselves that entered the playoffs as a Stanley Cup contender,” while the Ducks “fell behind 1:06 into the game and never recovered.” Coach Joel Quenneville later dismissed the loss as a “throwaway game,” framing it as a correction rather than a collapse.
Injury Updates
- Mark Stone (Vegas) – The captain left Game 3 after a lower-body injury in the first period and was listed as “Out” for Game 4. Forward Brandon Saad will replace him; Saad noted, “That’s a tough guy to replace.”
- Radko Gudas (Anaheim) – The Ducks’ captain was a “game-time decision” after missing the first-period warm-ups. Coach Joel Quenneville said, “We’ll see,” while Gudas himself called the playoff stretch “one of the hardest experiences of my career” and emphasized the team’s unity.
Statistical Snapshot
- Series odds: MoneyPuck gives Vegas a 54 % edge; HockeyStats projects a 57 % edge.
- Special teams: Anaheim is 0-for-11 on the power play; Vegas committed only two penalties and blocked 20 shots in Game 3.
- Goaltending: Vegas net-minder Carter Hart posted 31 saves with a .915 save percentage. Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal was pulled after the first period (5-of-8), with Ville Husso finishing with 17-of-19.
Official Statements & Responses
- Joel Quenneville (Ducks head coach): “Throwaway game.”
- John Tortorella (Vegas head coach): Confirmed Stone “Out” and emphasized a “next-man-up” approach.
- Radko Gudas (Ducks captain): “It’s been one of the hardest experiences of my career…we’re in this together.”
- Nic Dowd (Vegas forward): “‘Stoney’ is obviously a huge piece of this team.”
- Colton Sissons (Vegas forward): “We have to step up as a group.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Local observers noted Vegas controlling transition play, slowing Anaheim’s forecheck pressure, and exploiting defensive lapses. The Ducks’ power-play woes and the potential boost from Gudas’s return were highlighted as critical factors for a comeback.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Stone’s injury is described both as an “undisclosed lower-body injury” and simply a “lower-body injury,” leaving the exact nature unclear.
- Gudas is listed as a “game-time decision” yet was absent from warm-ups; his availability for Game 4 remains uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “throwaway game” — Joel Quenneville, Ducks head coach
- “That's a tough guy to replace,” — Brandon Saad, Vegas forward
- “Has been one of the hardest experiences of my career. But you know, the guys are battling for each other. They’re a very great group, they’re keeping me in the loop, and we are in this together.” — Radko Gudas, Ducks captain
- “Out,” — John Tortorella, Vegas head coach
What’s Next
Game 4 kicks off at 9:30 p.m. ET. A Vegas victory would extend the lead to 3-1; a Ducks win would tie the series 2-2 and could shift momentum. Post-game analysis will focus on Saad’s impact for Vegas and whether Gudas returns to bolster Anaheim’s power play.
