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The Knights took care of the Anaheim Ducks one last time as the 2021 NHL season comes to a close.
Vegas won seven out of eight games against the Ducks with a 5-1 series finale Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
“They’re obviously a team that’s hitting their stride right now, and it’s all at the right time," Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk told ESPN. “Top to bottom, they’re playing championship-caliber hockey from the net out.”
The win improves Vegas to 34-11-2 including winning nine straight for the Knights.
Vegas leads the West Division standings with 70 points.
The Colorado Avalanche remain in second, but have slipped in point total and now are four points behind the Knights.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild have stayed steady and are at 65 points – good for third place.
Up next, the Knights will return home to T-Mobile Arena for a crucial game against the second-place Colorado Avalanche before heading back out on the road for four games. Puck drop is at 6:30 p.m.
Center Chandler Stephenson scored two goals in the first period to begin the onslaught.
The first came within 30 seconds following an Anaheim turnover in the defensive ice. After a slick pass from behind the net assisted from wing Max Pacioretty, Stephenson fired the puck to the high and far side of the net to give Vegas a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first period, defensemen Shea Theodore launched a perfect outlet pass from deep defensive ice to Stephenson who was slashing down the middle.
Stephenson cleaned up the breakaway goal to give Vegas the 2-0 lead.
Wing William Carrier scored his fifth goal of the season on a pass from defensemen Alex Pietrangelo early in the second period.
Anaheim would score in the third period before Vegas answered with two more goals from Theodore and center William Karlsson.