The Golden Knights were back on the ice at City National Arena on Monday, trying to reset after a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks that knotted their second-round series at 2-2. Players called Game 4 a physical test but pointed to the return of center William Karlsson as a reason to believe there is still plenty of runway left. Attention now swings to a pivotal Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
Howden Praises Karlsson's Return
Forward Brett Howden said Karlsson wasted no time making his presence felt, calling the veteran's return "it's huge having him back in the lineup." Speaking with KTNV during the team's Monday wrap-up at City National Arena, Howden pointed to Karlsson's assist as proof of his willingness to get to the dirty areas of the ice and noted that the group had missed him all year.
Anaheim's Power Play Turns The Tide
Anaheim leaned on special teams and a balanced attack to grab Game 4. Beckett Sennecke and Alex Killorn each finished with a goal and an assist, Cutter Gauthier piled up three helpers, and Ian Moore scored his first career playoff goal. Vegas answered with goals from Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden, plus a late Tomas Hertl tally with the goalie pulled, but the Ducks' two power-play strikes ended up being the difference, according to Sportsnet.
What To Watch For In Game 5
The series now swings back to T-Mobile Arena for Game 5 on Tuesday, with ticket listings showing a 6:30 p.m. puck drop in Las Vegas. A stronger penalty kill and a jolt from home-ice energy will be priorities after Anaheim snapped an 0-for-11 power-play skid with those two goals. The latest schedule details and ticket options are available through SeatGeek.
Players Keep Perspective
Winger Pavel Dorofeyev stressed the importance of staying mentally steady in the aftermath of the loss, telling KTNV that the team needs to believe in itself, stick together, and stay positive. With little time to dwell, the Knights will try to flip the script back on home ice under the Las Vegas lights Tuesday night.
