Anaheim Ducks News and Notes: Playoffs Round Two – Hockey Writers – Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks played a tough, tough, and exciting first round in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In six games against the Edmonton Oilers, they scored an incredible 30 goals. Unexpected players stood up and contributed to the team’s success, eventually coming out on top and advancing to the second round.

They started their series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night, where they lost 3-1 to the home team. Let’s take a look at that game, along with some notes on what happened to the team.

Losing in the First Game

After the excitement of the first round, the Ducks were busy and the fans were excited to see how they would fare against the Golden Knights. Unfortunately, the team did not disappoint in the first game of the series. The entire first half went scoreless for either team, with only Vegas’ Brett Howden scoring in the second half.

This is in stark contrast to the attacking pace of the first round, where they did not score less than four goals in any game. Despite 34 shots on goal, Anaheim couldn’t solve the puzzle that was Carter Hart. Mikael Granlund skated to one in the third period, but Ivan Barbashev scored the game-winner from behind.

The Golden Knights are a familiar opponent the Ducks play regularly. This season, they won two of the three regular season games between the teams. However, they have not seen their opponent under the leadership of coach John Tortorella who was hired on March 29. They did not face goalkeeper Hart in the regular season. They will have to adapt to this new system quickly if they want to defeat the Golden Knights and go to the Western Conference finals.

LaCombe Is Team MVP

Defenseman Jackson LaCombe is quickly establishing himself as the team’s best player this postseason and could be crucial in winning this series. He’s always been a two-way player, but he’s really showing off his offense in every game. LaCombe is performing at an impressive clip, averaging over a point per game (10 points in seven). He has scored once, but his attacking skills stand out in his playmaking ability.

In critical moments, the defender knows how to step up. In Monday night’s loss, he gave his team a glimmer of hope by setting up Granlund for the game-tying goal. He made a three-pointer in the second game against the Oilers to help his team win 6-4.

In Game 4, his pass helped Cutter Gauthier to a two-goal win over Edmonton, and his layup on Jeffrey Viel’s goal tied the game and set the stage for overtime, where Ryan Poehling scored the winner. When the pressure is high and goals are critical, LaCombe is there to step into the action and come up big.

Playoff Celebrations Around Orange County

The team’s community is abuzz with their success in the postseason thus far. Playoff rally flags can be seen on cars everywhere and can be purchased online for just $5. The Ducks Playoff House is open for the remainder of their postseason run; Playoff House is a celebration of the team, featuring specialty coffee drinks, merchandise, surprise guests, and spirited demonstrations. The house is open daily and admission is free.

Viewing events for the away games are hosted at the Honda Center and are hosted by arena stars DJ Jojo and Ally Kay, as well as Wild Wing and the Power Players. Tickets are free, but must be claimed in advance. Off-site viewing parties are hosted everywhere, too. Details and tickets can be found on the club’s website.

One game into their second round matchup, the fun has just begun for the Ducks. How far will they go in the Stanley Cup? The team will look for a win against Vegas on Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena.