ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mitch Marner delivered a highlight-reel goal just 62 seconds into Game 6, and the Vegas Golden Knights never looked back, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Thursday night at Honda Center to win the second-round series 4-2.
The victory sends the Golden Knights to the Western Conference Final for the fifth time in franchise history and first since they won the Stanley Cup in 2023. They will face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver.
Marner’s opening goal came after a long stretch pass from William Karlsson. The right wing stopped at the crease, went forehand to backhand twice, then between his legs and finished forehand past goaltender Lukas Dostal. The goal immediately silenced a crowd that had seen the Ducks win all six previous home Game 6s in franchise history.
“I think that’s up there with Karly’s goal in Year 1,” defenseman Shea Theodore said, referring to Karlsson’s famous between-the-legs shorthanded goal against San Jose in 2018.
Marner later assisted Brett Howden on a shorthanded goal at 8:30 of the first period. It was Howden’s third shorthanded goal of the playoffs, tying an NHL record, and Marner’s 11th point of the series. Each of Howden’s shorthanded goals has been assisted by Marner.
“I feel like me and Mitch are building a little something here,” Howden said.
The Golden Knights built a 3-0 lead in the first period and extended it to 4-0 before the Ducks scored late in the second. Pavel Dorofeyev added a goal in the third period. Goaltender Carter Hart made 28 saves for the win.
Vegas played without captain Mark Stone (lower body), defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (upper body), and defenseman Brayden McNabb (suspension).
“This game is probably one of the biggest non-individual games out of all sports that are professional,” Marner said. “Nothing in this sport can really be one man.”
