The 2026-27 NHL season for the Anaheim Ducks started where it left off, with the team opening their campaign on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights—who had beaten them in six games during the second round of the 2026 playoffs. Coming off their first playoff appearance since 2018 and their first series win since 2017 in the previous season, the Ducks aimed to build on last year’s promising progress despite a challenging offseason.
In their season opener on Friday night, the Ducks faced a Golden Knights team that had already secured a win in their season debut. Anaheim featured a lineup filled with fresh faces, including two NHL debuts—Noah Warren and Judd Caulfield—and three other newcomers—Travis Mitchell, AJ Greer, and Jeff Malott. The game started with the Ducks mostly on defense, but they managed to score a late first-period goal and then tallied three more goals early in the second, building a 4-0 lead heading into the final frame. Despite Vegas’s intense push to come back, the Ducks held firm and won, demonstrating both surprising strength and areas needing improvement.
Head coach Joel Quenneville praised the team’s strong start and up-tempo play, highlighting their solid puck pressure and effective speed. Dostal’s outstanding goaltending was also a key factor, making critical saves and keeping the victory within reach. The Ducks showcased their rapid counterattack off the rush—a strength from last year—and made progress establishing a cycling game in the offensive zone, notably involving Leo Carlsson, who showed promising puck movement and decision-making.
Defensively, the Ducks had some rough patches, especially in their own zone, but overall, their coverage was better than expected, thanks in part to disciplined positioning and quick puck retrievals. The team’s quick forwards created turnovers and generated odd-man rushes, providing offensive opportunities. AJ Greer played a vital role by providing physicality and controlling the neutral zone, which helped create space for his teammates.
Looking ahead, the Ducks are set to host the Florida Panthers for their home opener on Sunday. During the offseason, they also extended Tristan Luneau’s contract to six years, reaffirming their commitment to building a solid foundation moving forward.
Fan Take: This opening game shows that the Ducks have the potential to be an exciting and competitive team this season, balancing youth development with gritty, fast-paced hockey. For fans, it’s a reminder that even amidst rebuilding, the team’s young talent and energy can make every game worth watching, S signaling a promising future for Anaheim.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
