Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, left, celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Las Vegas.
The Anaheim Ducks are the latest young team growing and thriving under the weight of its first taste of postseason pressure. Although they ended their franchise’s seven-year playoff drought, the Ducks were not a good defensive team during the regular season, allowing the fourth-most goals in the NHL. But when the Ducks had to protect a 2-0 lead with less than seven minutes left against the Golden Knights in Game 2 of the second round, they went all-out on a penalty-kill that had their teammates standing in excitement at the bench. The series is even heading to Game 3.