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Olen Zellweger’s clutch Game 5 goal for Ducks has Joel Quenneville gushing with pride
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The Anaheim Ducks were unable to complete the comeback in Game 5 of their Western Conference second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night — but defenseman Olen Zellweger did his part.
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After being healthy scratched for the first nine games of the postseason, the 22-year-old made his debut in Game 4 on Sunday, registering an assist and playing just under 12 minutes as Anaheim beat Vegas 4-3.
But he made his biggest impact on Tuesday, scoring the tying goal on a seeing-eye shot past Carter Hart that knotted the score 2-2 late in regulation. He played over 16 minutes in the contest, and earned high praise from his head coach despite the defeat.
"I commend him," Joel Quenneville told reporters afterwards, per NHL.com's Derek Van Diest. "It's a great attribute to show his competitiveness. He stayed with it and was professional for a young kid, knowing that you lose your lifetime dream of not playing in a playoff game.
"He bided his time, he worked his tail off getting himself not just conditionally ready for it, but mentally. That was the thing that we were all appreciative of, how he approached it and prepared himself to be a part of it and contribute in a meaningful way. And he did more than we were expecting."
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Zellweger has been an excellent addition to the blue line since entering the series, and it's expected that he'll again play a key role as the Ducks try to stave off elimination on home ice on Thursday.
A former second-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Zellweger's third regular season in 2025-26 saw him chip in 22 points in 76 games.
"He's got so much skill and plays so hard, and he could be playing every game," said center Mason McTavish, who assisted on Zellweger's tying goal. "We've seen it a lot here with guys going in and out and scoring. I'm just so happy for those guys, and especially (Zellweger). He's been out for so long, and to get his chance and score, it's awesome. I'm so happy for him."
The critical goal would have meant a little more if the Ducks had been able to steal the game in overtime. It's now an uphill climb against an experienced Golden Knights team , but one thing is for sure: Zellweger will not be coming out of the lineup the rest of the way.
Related: Ducks' Beckett Sennecke adds name to exclusive rookie club amid goal streak
Related: Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb ejected from key Game 5 vs Ducks for Ryan Poehling hit
