Vegas Golden Knights center Nolan Patrick (41) reaches for the puck against Ducks center Vinni Lettieri (28) and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ducks center Derek Grant (38) checks Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Vegas Golden Knights center Nicolas Roy, right, celebrates after scoring against Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the first period on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
A member of the Vegas Golden Knights Vegas Vivas! cheerleaders, left, and the Golden Knights mascot Chance the Golden Gila Monster celebrate with fans after a first-period goal by Nicolas Roy against the Ducks during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Nicolas Roy of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the Anaheim Ducks during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit defends the net against Sam Steel #23 of the Anaheim Ducks in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) skates with the puck against Ducks defenseman Simon Benoit (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit makes a save against Derek Grant #38 of the Anaheim Ducks in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Alex Pietrangelo of the Vegas Golden Knights and Sam Steel #23 and Sonny Milano #12 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for the puck in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit stops the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Adam Brooks of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a first-period goal against the Anaheim Ducks during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights and Sam Steel #23 of the Anaheim Ducks fight for the puck off a faceoff in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson is covered in snow as he deflects the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Vegas Golden Knights’ Mattias Janmark reacts after being pushed by the Ducks’ Josh Manson after he lost his stick during the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. Janmark was awarded a penalty shot. Vegas won, 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Vegas Golden Knights’ Mattias Janmark reacts after being pushed by the Ducks’ Josh Manson after he lost his stick during the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. Janmark was awarded a penalty shot. Vegas won, 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Vegas Golden Knights’ Mattias Janmark reacts after being pushed by the Ducks’ Josh Manson after he lost his stick during the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. Janmark was awarded a penalty shot. Vegas won, 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights and Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks fight in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights and Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks fight in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights and Ryan Getzlaf of the Ducks fall to the ice as they fight in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson stops the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Jonathan Marchessault of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against Sonny Milano of the Ducks in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Brayden McNabb of the Vegas Golden Knights and Derek Grant of the Ducks fight in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Ducks’ Sam Carrick shoves Michael Amadio of the Vegas Golden Knights down on the ice as linesman Mark Wheler tries to intervene in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson defends the net against Evgenii Dadonov #63 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a save as Nolan Patrick of the Vegas Golden Knights looks for a rebound in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights center Mattias Janmark (26) celebrates his goal against the Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ducks goaltender John Gibson kneels in the crease after giving up a goal to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ducks left wing Sonny Milano skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson, left, defenseman Brayden McNabb, right, and Ducks center Sam Carrick vie for the puck during the third period on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Ducks’ Sam Carrick, left, fights with the Vegas Golden Knights’ Brayden McNabb during the third period of Friday afternoon’s game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Ben Hutton controls the puck against Ducks left wing Nicolas Deslauriers during the third period on Friday afternoon in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Jakob Silfverberg of the Ducks passes the puck as Alex Pietrangelo of the Vegas Golden Knights defends in the third period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Ducks 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore, left, congratulates goaltender Laurent Brossoit after their 3-1 victory over the Ducks on Friday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Nicolas Roy of the Vegas Golden Knights skates on the ice after being named the first star of the game following the team’s 3-1 victory over the Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ryan Getzlaf wasn’t happy on Friday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, not with the Ducks’ three-goal deficit, not with his teammates’ listless play, and certainly not with William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights at that particular moment in the second period of an eventual 3-1 loss.
So, Getzlaf swatted Karlsson in the calf a couple of times after they finally untangled after a collision in the corner, drawing a roughing penalty that probably should have been called slashing. A few minutes later, Getzlaf fought the Golden Knights’ Keegan Kolesar.
Was it the right move for the Ducks’ captain to take himself off the ice for seven minutes with plenty of time still to play?
“Ryan’s going to lead as he sees fit and I’ve got absolutely no problem with his choice there,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “I did think it woke up some of us. It’s too bad it didn’t wake up all of us.”
In fact, the Ducks were no-shows to the showdown for first place in the Pacific Division, proving to be no match for the Golden Knights. The Ducks lost battles all around the ice and only standout goaltending from John Gibson and strong penalty killing kept them within striking distance.
Vegas controlled the play from start to finish and took a comprehensive victory, maintaining its position as the division’s leader. The Ducks (17-10-7) could have vaulted past Vegas (22-12-0) into first with a victory, but they didn’t play with the necessary effectiveness or sense of urgency.
Nicolas Roy, Adam Brooks and Mattias Janmark scored for Vegas. Gibson denied Janmark on a second-period penalty shot, one of 42 saves he made in a standout performance. The Ducks’ penalty-kill denied the Golden Knights on six power-play chances, including four over the first two periods.
Getzlaf scored a power-play goal with 12 seconds left in the Ducks’ third consecutive loss, denying a shutout for Vegas goalie Laurent Brossoit, who faced only 16 shots. The Ducks were outscored 2-0 and outshot 16-4 in the first period, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
“I wasn’t overly pleased with the way we started the game,” Getzlaf said. “I thought our emotions were low. Coming into an energetic building like this, there’s no excuse for that other than that we came out of this (extended Christmas) break a little bit flat. I was just trying to get the group going as best as I could. That’s one way I know how to do it. It was good to see our guys showing some passion.
“We didn’t do anything too stupid.”
None of the Vegas goals were works of art, but they came via hard work. Roy’s goal ricocheted off his shin as he won a battle for position in front of Gibson. Brooks’ goal deflected off his butt and past Gibson. Janmark’s score came after a goal-mouth battle with William Carrier pitch-forking Gibson into his net.
After a short debate on the bench, the Ducks declined to challenge.
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“If Sonny Milano had not been on the back of their guy who was in our crease and had his stick between our goalie’s legs, then we would have (challenged),” Eakins said. “But we’ve looked at a million of these things. As soon as somebody is on the guy’s back, it’s usually deemed that he was pushed in there.
“So, rather than chance it, and end up with another power play, we decided to lay off. That’s where the challenges are tough. They’re great to look at when you’re sitting at home and you get to rewind it 10 times and look at it from numerous angles. We’ve got to make a decision there in about 20 seconds whether to go or not. That was my call.”
