LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights secured a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their playoff series, a win that hinged on a late, contentious non-call for icing. With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Ivan Barbashev netted what proved to be the deciding goal, capitalizing on a play where officials did not signal icing.
The absence of an icing call, which allowed play to continue, directly preceded Barbashev's game-winning goal. Ducks coach Joel Quenneville expressed significant displeasure with the officiating on the sequence. Rules analyst Dave Jackson suggested that, in his view, icing should have been called, though he acknowledged the linesperson's judgment call regarding the race to the puck.
The play in question involved Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights and Jackson LaCombe of the Ducks converging on a loose puck. The linesperson's decision not to blow the whistle, based on the apparent belief that Eichel would reach the puck first, ignited the controversy. Ducks players, according to reports, appeared to slow their pursuit once the no-call was made, while Barbashev continued skating.
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Pavel Dorofeyev provided the assist on Barbashev's goal. The Golden Knights opened the scoring in the second period via Brett Howden, set up by Mitch Marner. Marner later sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds. Carter Hart, the Ducks' goaltender, made 33 saves on 34 shots faced.
The series, which saw the Golden Knights take an early lead, continues Wednesday night in Las Vegas with Game 2.
BACKGROUND: A SERIES UNPACKED
The initial encounter between the Golden Knights and the Ducks marked the start of their second-round playoff confrontation. Prior to this series, the Ducks had advanced by navigating a "high-flying first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers," where their offense was reportedly "held mostly in check" in Game 1 by Vegas.
Notable for the Golden Knights was the return of center William Karlsson, who had been sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained in November. Karlsson saw immediate ice time, even participating on the penalty kill early in the game. Despite his reduced average ice time compared to the regular season, Karlsson made an "immediate impact."
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The Ducks had multiple power-play opportunities throughout the contest, but were unable to convert. The game remained scoreless for the initial five minutes of the first period, with Vegas killing off an early Anaheim advantage.
