NHL
Ducks survive Vegas comeback to win season opener 4–3
Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist as Anaheim built a 4–0 lead, then held off three third-period goals from Vegas to win its season opener.
Final, 10:47 p.m. MDT: Anaheim held off a three-goal third-period comeback to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4–3 in its season opener Friday at T-Mobile Arena. Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves.
Beckett Sennecke opened the scoring with eight seconds left in the first period. Alex Killorn and Jeff Malott then scored 55 seconds apart, at 1:33 and 2:28 of the second, before Carlsson made it 4–0 at 7:03. His goal proved to be the winner.
Vegas outshot Anaheim 30–20 and scored all three of its goals in the final period. Shea Theodore scored at 4:38, and Tomas Hertl added a power-play goal 89 seconds later. Braeden Bowman cut the deficit to one at 17:10, leaving 2:50 to find an equalizer. The Ducks held their lead through the final horn.
Carter Hart made 16 saves for Vegas. Anaheim finished 0-for-2 on the power play; the Golden Knights were 1-for-3. Carlsson assisted on Sennecke’s goal, while Jack Eichel assisted on the first two Vegas goals.
Final score and game data
Final: Anaheim 4, Vegas 3. Final result confirmed by ESPN and the NHL; statistics checked at 10:47 p.m. MDT. Vegas led 30–20 in shots; Dostal made 27 saves and Hart made 16. Anaheim went 0-for-2 on the power play; Vegas went 1-for-3.
Score, period totals, scoring plays and team statistics refresh every 30 seconds while this page is visible.
Game data: ESPN Gamecast. Play timestamps show time elapsed in the period.
Game updates
10:43 p.m. MDT: Ducks hold on for a 4–3 win
Anaheim won its season opener after Vegas scored three times in the third period. Dostal finished with 27 saves, and Carlsson’s second-period goal stood as the winner. ESPN and the NHL confirmed the final result.
10:42 p.m. MDT: Bowman cuts the deficit to one
Bowman scored at 17:10 of the third period, with assists from Victor Olofsson and Brayden McNabb. That left 2:50 for Vegas to find an equalizer after Anaheim led 4–0 entering the period.
10:14 p.m. MDT: Hertl brings Vegas within two
Hertl scored at 6:07 of the third period, with assists from Mitch Marner and Eichel. His goal followed Theodore’s by 89 seconds, cutting Anaheim’s lead to 4–2 after Vegas trailed by four at the second intermission.
10:07 p.m. MDT: Theodore gets Vegas on the board
Theodore scored at 4:38 of the third period, with assists from Brett Howden and Jack Eichel. Anaheim still led 4–1, while Vegas held a 19–18 edge in shots.
10 p.m. MDT: Anaheim takes a four-goal lead into the third
The Ducks still led 4–0 with 18:01 remaining in the third period. Carlsson had a goal and an assist, while Luneau assisted on Sennecke’s opening goal.
9:45 p.m. MDT: Three second-period goals put Ducks in control
Killorn, Malott and Carlsson extended Anaheim’s lead to 4–0. Dostal remained unbeaten through two periods, with Vegas ahead 17–14 in shots. Neither team had scored on the power play.
8:47 p.m. MDT: Sennecke puts Anaheim ahead
Sennecke’s wrist shot at 19:52 of the opening period broke the scoreless tie. The Ducks finished the period 0-for-1 on the power play; Vegas was 0-for-2. Dostal stopped all nine shots he faced.
Why this game matters
Anaheim opened its regular season against a Vegas team that entered the night 1–0. The Ducks’ young core also includes Luneau, who agreed to a six-year extension this week. Read the latest NHL coverage.
Final result checked: October 2, 2026, 10:43 p.m. MDT. Score, statistics and scoring credits: ESPN’s game feed, with the result and scoring timeline corroborated by the NHL. Final statistics updated at 10:47 p.m. MDT.
