Full Breakdown
Ducks Stave Off Elimination, Tie Series 2-2 with 4-3 Win Over Knights
5/11/2026, 10:52:00 PM
Game-4 Recap: Anaheim Beats Vegas 4-3
On May 10, 2026 at the Honda Center, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3, evening the Western Conference semifinal series at two games each. Rookie winger Beckett Sennecke opened the scoring on the power play at 8:43 of the first period; Alex Killorn supplied the go-ahead power-play goal at 17:58 of the second. Anaheim added goals from Mikael Granlund and Ian Moore. Vegas answered with power-play goals by Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden, and a late-game tally by Tomas Hertl with the net-minder Carter Hart pulled for an extra attacker. Lukas Dostal stopped 18 of 21 shots for Anaheim; Hart made 19 saves on 23 shots.
Series Background & Stakes
The matchup is the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Vegas entered Game 4 holding a 2-1 series lead after a 6-2 victory in Game 3. A loss would have given Anaheim a 3-1 deficit, a situation from which teams win only 8 % of the time. The Ducks, making their first playoff run since 2018, needed a win to avoid facing elimination in Game 5.
Key Players & Lineup Changes
Anaheim’s lineup featured Sennecke, a Calder Trophy finalist, and veteran Alex Killorn. Forward Cutter Gauthier contributed three assists, while Ian Moore recorded his first career playoff goal after being a healthy scratch in Games 2-3. Vegas was without captain Mark Stone, who missed Game 4 with a lower-body injury; Brandon Saad made his postseason debut in Stone’s place. Coach John Tortorella kept Mitch Marner on the first power-play unit and promoted Pavel Dorofeyev to the top line.
Timeline of Critical Plays
- 8:43 1st P – Sennecke (PP) scores, Ducks lead 1-0.
- 10:22 1st P – Dorofeyev (PP) ties 1-1.
- 15:25 1st P – Granlund scores, Ducks up 2-1.
- 4:04 2nd P – Howden (PP) ties 2-2.
- 17:58 2nd P – Killorn (PP) puts Ducks ahead 3-2.
- 3:43 3rd P – Moore scores, Ducks extend lead 4-2.
- 1:04 3rd P – Hertl (PP) cuts lead to 4-3; Knights fail to equalize.
Data & Statistics
- Shots on goal: Vegas 23, Anaheim 21.
- Save percentages: Hart .826, Dostal .857.
- Power-play: Ducks 2/11 (first two of series), Knights 0/27 before Game 4, allowed 2 PP goals.
- Penalty kill: Knights 26/27 before Game 4, gave up 2 goals.
- Series totals (through Game 4): Ducks 36 goals, 10 power-play goals; Knights 34 goals, 9 power-play goals.
Official Statements & Responses
Coach Joel Quenneville praised the Ducks’ “great rebound” and “urgency,” noting adjustments after the Game 3 loss. Tortorella emphasized the need to “get out of the second period tied 2-2” and highlighted discipline on the penalty kill. Saad described replacing Stone as “a tough guy to replace” but expressed confidence in the team’s depth. Defenseman Brayden McNabb called for “a little more disciplined” play after the penalties.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts and players pointed to the Knights’ “lack of discipline” on the power play, which broke a 26-of-27 penalty-kill streak. The absence of Stone was cited as a factor reducing Vegas’ offensive depth and power-play efficiency.
On-the-Ground Reports
Sennecke said the crowd’s noise “gave us the energy to start the game.” Killorn noted Sennecke’s “emotional” involvement as a catalyst for his own performance. Gauthier remarked that “the first three games I wasn’t getting enough shots,” highlighting the Ducks’ earlier offensive struggles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the specifics of Stone’s injury: some label it “undisclosed,” while others describe a “lower-body” issue sustained while chasing a puck. No official medical update was provided, leaving his availability for Game 5 uncertain. Additionally, while the Knights’ penalty-kill statistics are clear, the exact number of penalties taken in Game 4 varies between reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's a great rebound, a good, resilient game,” — Alex Killorn, Ducks forward
- “I'm not going to dissect the PK,” — John Tortorella, Golden Knights coach
- “I have zero worries about this team as far as how we’re going to go about the next few games here, wherever it goes to,” — John Tortorella, Golden Knights coach
- “It was awesome, especially in the first. We heard them, they were really loud,” — Beckett Sennecke, Ducks rookie
- “We miss him, period, as far as his presence and as far as his play.” — John Tortorella, Golden Knights coach
- “I think we just gotta be a little more disciplined,” — Brayden McNabb, Golden Knights defenseman
What’s Next
Game 5 shifts to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 12. The series remains tied 2-2, and the Knights must decide whether to adjust their power-play strategy without Stone, while the Ducks look to sustain the momentum generated by their revived special teams.
