The Anaheim Ducks earned a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night, surviving a tense finish in a game that never offered much breathing room. Anaheim’s ability to answer pressure at key moments proved decisive in a matchup defined more by execution and composure than any single dominant stretch. With both clubs missing important pieces, the Ducks found just enough offense and protected the margin when it mattered most.
For Anaheim, the win was the kind that can steady a club over the course of the 2025-26 season NHL Regular Season, especially against an opponent with the depth and structure Vegas typically brings. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, pushed the game to the edge but could not produce the equalizer after falling behind by the slimmest of margins.
The decisive moment
In a one-goal game, the decisive stretch came when Anaheim turned a tight contest into a lead it could defend. From there, the Ducks weathered the late push from Vegas and avoided the mistake that would have erased their advantage.
That final defensive stand gave the result its shape. Vegas kept the pressure on, but Anaheim stayed organized enough in its own end to close out a game that could have swung either way in the closing minutes.
By the numbers
- Final score: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3
- Margin: one goal
- Anaheim scored four times despite injuries on the blue line
- Vegas finished with three goals but came up one short in the late chase
- Notable absences included Drew Helleson and Radko Gudas for Anaheim, and Mark Stone for Vegas
The scoreline underscored how narrow the difference was from start to finish. Anaheim generated enough finish to offset the strain created by missing defenders, while Vegas had offensive push but could not fully compensate for the absence of one of its most important leaders in Stone.
What it means
For the Ducks, this was a useful example of winning without needing a runaway performance. Anaheim showed it could manage a close game, produce timely offense and hold its nerve late, all of which matter over the long grind of the regular season.
For the Golden Knights, the loss will sting because the margin was so small. Vegas remained competitive throughout, but in games like this the difference often comes down to one defensive lapse, one missed finish or one empty late possession, and the Golden Knights were on the wrong side of that equation.
What to watch next
The next question for Anaheim is whether it can build on this result while working around its injury list, particularly with Helleson and Gudas unavailable. For Vegas, the focus shifts to sharpening the details in close games and seeing how quickly it can respond without Stone in the lineup.
If these teams continue to play games at this pace and margin, the smallest adjustments will decide the next meeting as well. Anaheim won this chapter by one goal, and it earned every bit of it.