ANAHEIM, Calif. — Robin Lehner made 16 saves for his first shutout of the season and 16th of his career, and the Vegas Golden Knights extended their winning streak to five games with a 4-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
William Karlsson, Chandler Stephenson, Nicolas Roy and Brayden McNabb scored for the Golden Knights, who moved within two points of the West Division-leading Colorado Avalanche.
Stephenson added an assist and Mark Stone had two assists to help Vegas improve to 3-0 on its four-game trip to Southern California to face the Los Angeles Kings and Ducks. Vegas and Anaheim complete a two-game set Sunday.
John Gibson made 44 saves as last-place Anaheim saw its two-game winning streak end. Gibson, who saved a penalty shot by Stephenson with 5:27 remaining, was back in goal after Anthony Stolarz picked up a pair of victories while giving up just one combined goal against San Jose.
Lehner, who missed over a month of play between February and March with a concussion, made just his 13th start of the season while picking up his 10th win. It was his first shutout since March 3, 2020, against the New Jersey Devils.
Karlsson gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead nine seconds into the second period after Reilly Smith skated into traffic in front of the Anaheim goal and lost the puck. Karlsson collected it just in front of the Anaheim crease and scored his 11th of the season into a wide-open net.
Stephenson delivered a little more than four minutes later for a 2-0 lead when he took a pass from Stone as he charged into the Ducks’ zone and lifted a shot past Gibson and inside the left post for his 10th of the season.
Roy scored his fourth of the season with 22 seconds remaining in the second period when he stole the puck from Anaheim’s Max Comtois, weaved through traffic and scored over Gibson’s right shoulder.
McNabb’s goal with 12 minutes remaining was his second of the season and came off assists from Stephenson and Stone. It was the team-leading 34th assist of the season for Stone.
NO GO FOR NOSEK
Two days after Tomas Nosek recorded a season-best three points (one goal, two assist) for the Golden Knights in a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the forward was a late scratch.
There was no immediate report from the team about an injury.
Nosek has been effective for Vegas over his past 16 games with 14 points on six goals and eight assists, including four goals and two assists over his past seven games.
GOOD CHEER
The Ducks welcomed fans back into Honda Center for the first time since March 11, 2000. It was a small gathering of about 2,000, with tickets available first to Anaheim season-ticket holders, but a handful of Golden Knights fans managed to make themselves heard amid the intimate gathering.
The Ducks have four more home games remaining, including one Sunday against the Golden Knights and another between the teams on April 24. The final two Ducks home games are against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Kings on April 30 and May 1.
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