Golden Knights shut out Ducks for fifth win in row

ANAHEIM -- Robin Lehner made 16 saves for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday.

It was the 16th shutout of Lehner's NHL career and first since a 3-0 win against the New Jersey Devils on March 3, 2020, in his 300th NHL game.
Chandler Stephenson had a goal and an assist, and Mark Stone had two assists for the Golden Knights (30-11-2), who have won five in a row to move two points behind the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the eight-team Honda West Division.
"The fact that we're still hanging around (the West Division lead) is a testament to our resilience to stay in the fight and win the games we need to win," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said.

John Gibson made a season-high 47 saves for the Ducks (14-24-7), who were trying to win three straight games for the first time this season.
"This was a tough game for us," Anaheim forward Jakob Silfverberg said. "We were coming off two good games [at the San Jose Sharks] and feeling pretty good about our game, but tonight is definitely a step in the wrong direction."
The teams will play again here Sunday.
After failing to score despite outshooting Anaheim 15-6 in the first period, including 11-1 in the opening 10:12, Vegas scored three times in the second period, when it had a 23-3 advantage in shots on goal.
"They're pushing the pace out there," Silfverberg said. "They're making plays, they're stretching guys, making it hard for us. They're spreading us out, bumping pucks back. It's tough."
William Karlsson made it 1-0 nine seconds into the period. He won the opening face-off, and Reilly Smith drove to the net against rookie defenseman Jamie Drysdale. Gibson made the save against Smith from in close, but Karlsson scored on the rebound.
"Let's just say everyone knew what they were doing," Karlsson said of the set play to open the period.

Stephenson scored on a short breakaway after receiving a pass from Stone in the high slot on the rush to make it 2-0 at 4:27.
Nicolas Roy stole the puck from forward Max Comtois in the Ducks zone and scored on a wrist shot from the slot to make it 3-0 with 22 seconds left.
"To me, Vegas is the hardest-working team in our division," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. "They are relentless on loose pucks. They're strong on puck battles, and that's why they're one of the elite teams in the League. It's something that we aspire to be down the road."
Brayden McNabb made it 4-0 at 8:00 of the third period when his shot went in off forward Alexander Volkov.
"Sometimes the puck hits your stick more often than not," McNabb said. "Tonight, it was finding me, and it was nice to finally get one by him."
The Ducks are last in the West, nine points behind the fourth-place St. Louis Blues. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NOTES: Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek was a late scratch because of an undisclosed injury. DeBoer said he doesn't believe it will keep Nosek out long term. ... Karlsson's goal nine seconds into the second period was the third-fastest to start a period in Vegas history. Max Pacioretty scored seven seconds into overtime in a 2-1 win against the Ducks on Jan. 16, and Jonathan Marchessault scored eight seconds into the third period of a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 22, 2019. ... It was the first game the Ducks allowed fans this season. They sold 1,717 tickets, or 10 percent of the capacity at Honda Center. ... Gibson made at least 45 saves in a game for the sixth time, tying Jonas Hiller for the most in Anaheim history. ... Gibson made the save against Stephenson on a penalty shot at 14:33 of the third period after he was called for throwing his stick at the puck. Gibson is the only NHL goalie to face four penalty shots this season; he's made the save on three.