The Anaheim Ducks were left frustrated after a controversial non-icing call led to the Vegas Golden Knights’ game-winning goal in Game 1 of their Second Round series on May 5, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena.
The Golden Knights won the match 3-1. Brett Howden opened the scoring at 3:14 in the second period. The Ducks tied it up with a goal from Mikael Granlund at 6:03 remaining in the third period.
However, Ivan Barbashev scored the game-winning goal for the Golden Knights with just 4:58 left on the clock. Mitch Marner sealed the victory with an empty-net goal shortly after.
Carter Hart, the Ducks’ goaltender, made an impressive 33 saves on 34 shots, achieving a .971 save percentage. His performance was highlighted by Ducks head coach John Tortorella, who stated, “He was our best player tonight.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville expressed his discontent regarding the non-icing call that preceded Barbashev’s goal. He said, “Clearly, I disagreed with the call. And it was clearly icing.” Quenneville emphasized that it was a significant moment in the game.
The Golden Knights improved their Game 1 record to 13-7 since entering the NHL playoffs. This marks their best series-opening performance since the 2017-18 season. Brett Howden also extended his playoff goal streak to four games, tying a franchise record.
As for next steps, Game 2 is scheduled for May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. Both teams will look to adjust their strategies following this contentious opening match.