| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGK | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| ANA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Golden Knights, Second Round Game 3, beat Ducks 6–2 at Honda Center on May 8, 2026.
In a pivotal Game 3 of the Second Round, the Golden Knights stormed to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Ducks. This win gives the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, putting pressure on the Ducks to respond in Game 4 to avoid falling behind in this critical matchup.
The Golden Knights set the tone early, scoring three goals in the first period. Shea Theodore opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, followed by Brayden McNabb and a late-period goal from Mitchell Marner that pushed the Ducks into a daunting position. By the start of the second period, the Ducks were already in a deep hole and struggled to regroup. Marner added two more goals in the second period, completing his impressive performance by capitalizing on the Ducks' defensive lapses.
While the Ducks found their footing and managed to score two goals in the third period—thanks to Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider—their efforts were too little, too late as Brett Howden capped off the Golden Knights' scoring with a goal in the final minutes.
Mitchell Marner was undoubtedly the star of the night, netting a hat trick and assisting on Theodore's opening goal. His offensive playmaking was critical in establishing the Golden Knights' dominance on the ice. Shea Theodore also had a strong showing with a goal and an assist, contributing to the team’s success.
For the Ducks, while Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider found the back of the net, they could not sustain enough offensive pressure to close the gap. The Ducks collected 32 shots on goal, but their power-play inefficacy—going 0 for 2—proved to be a missed opportunity in a game that required every advantage.
With the Golden Knights holding a 2-1 advantage in the series, Game 4 is now crucial for the Ducks. They will need to regroup quickly as they look for ways to combat the Golden Knights’ momentum. The stakes continue to rise, and the pressure is firmly on the Ducks to even the series.
Golden Knights won 6–2.
The final score was Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2.
Mitchell Marner (3), Brayden McNabb, Brett Howden, Shea Theodore.
Beckett Sennecke, Chris Kreider.
Carter Hart made 31 saves on 33 shots (.939 save percentage).
Ville Husso made 17 saves on 19 shots (.895 save percentage).
At Honda Center in Anaheim, the Ducks home rink.
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