2 Ducks most to blame for Game 5 loss to Golden Knights

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2 Ducks most to blame for Game 5 loss to Golden Knights

Tristin McKinstry, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Thu, May 14, 2026 ·

3 min read

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The Anaheim Ducks lost Game 5 of their second-round series to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. Now, the Ducks have their backs up against the wall. Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and their teammates can be eliminated from the postseason with a loss on Thursday night.

Anaheim is at a disadvantage in a number of ways. They do not have the same postseason experience as the Golden Knights, for instance. They do have players with postseason experience. Chris Kreider , John Carlson , and Jacob Trouba are among the names who have done this before. For the most part, though, they are inexperienced. And as a unit, this is their first playoff run together.

They will need to rely on their experience in Game 6 if they want to force a Game 7. However, they will also need some of their inexperienced players to step up. Much of the Ducks' core is made up of young players still getting their feet wet in the NHL. But they will have to step up if they want to keep their season alive for at least one more game.

With less than 24 hours to go before puck drop in Game 6, let's take a quick look back at Game 5. Here are two members of the Ducks who needed to step up against the Golden Knights, but failed to do so when it mattered most.

Leo Carlsson has to find his game

The Anaheim Ducks have one of the game's brightest young centers in Leo Carlsson . Prior to an injury during the 2025-26 campaign, Carlsson looked the part of an MVP candidate. However, the Ducks center has not been that sort of presence in this series.

The former second-overall pick has been productive when looking at the entire postseason. He has four goals and 10 points throughout this playoff run. However, only two of those points have come in this series against the Golden Knights.

Carlsson's lack of offensive production lingered into Game 5, as well. He played over 19 minutes in the overtime loss to Vegas on Tuesday night. However, he failed to record a single point. He took just two shots in this contest, a slight step up from Game 4 when he failed to take a single shot on net. He also finished as a -1.

Inexperience is a factor here, but at some point, the best players on a team have to make their presence felt. Carlsson wasn't a factor at all in Game 5, and this must change if the Ducks wish to come out of Game 6 with a win.

Troy Terry has been quiet in Golden Knights series

Troy Terry is one of the longest tenured Ducks players . He has gone through all the ups and downs of their rebuild. And he has been a consistent offensive presence, as well. However, much like Carlsson, he has not been all that productive against the Golden Knights.

Terry, like Carlsson, has been productive when looking at the big picture. He also has 10 points during this run. But, much like his teammate, only two of those points have come in this series.

The Ducks winger again failed to score a point in the Game 5 overtime loss on Tuesday night. Unlike Carlsson, though, he has yet to score a goal in this series. He has two assists and has not scored a goal since Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers in round one.

Terry does have experience through his years in the NHL. However, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a completely different story. He needs to step up and have more offensive impact in Game 6 against the Golden Knights on Thursday night.

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