Ducks can’t solve Golden Knights, who complete season sweep – Daily News

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Ducks goalie John Gibson reacts after hitting a stick in the face during the first period of their game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

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By WG RAMIREZ The associated press

LAS VEGAS — The Ducks will likely have to wait until next season to try to solve the Vegas Golden Knights puzzle.

Tomas Hertl scored a goal midway through the third period, Adin Hill made 31 saves and Vegas beat the Ducks, 3-1, to complete a four-game regular-season sweep Monday night and improve to 27-7-1 . all-time against their Pacific Division rivals.

After the Ducks tied the score on Mason McTavish’s goal early in the second period, Hertl broke the tie when he received a pass from Jack Eichel in front of Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal and maneuvered to his backhand .

Tanner Pearson scored a shorthanded goal in the first period and Keegan Kolesar added a goal and an assist for Vegas, which won its fourth straight game and won for the eighth time in nine games. Hill earned his 50th career victory with Pacific Division-leading Vegas, which improved to 14-3-0 at home this season.

Dostal made 19 saves in relief of Ducks starter John Gibson, who stopped all 11 shots he faced before leaving in the first period when Vegas’ Tanner Laczynski, turning to get back on the ice, inadvertently spiked the veteran goalie in the eye with the blade of his stick.

The Ducks were playing in the second straight game that began with a 5-4 shootout victory over Utah Sunday night in Salt Lake City. After playing 65 minutes in that one, Dostal added 39:37 in relief of Gibson, for a total of 104:37 in about 24 hours.

Vegas, which had allowed the first goal in five straight games, ended that streak late in the first period with Pearson’s first goal in 12 games and fourth career shorthanded goal. Alex Killorn turned the puck over in his own zone, and Pearson then fired a wrist shot from the high slot inside the left post at 19:19.

With a chance to gain momentum in the second period, the Ducks’ Killorn shot the puck. Hill went behind the net to collect the puck, which flew off one of the linesman’s skates and into the goal. Hill dove awkwardly to make the save, and the Ducks’ Leo Carlsson had a wide-open net but fired a backhand wide right.

The Ducks tied the score at 1:13 of the third period when McTavish narrowed the gap, took a pass from Radko Gudas and fired a wrist shot under Hill’s glove.

Hertl, alone in front of the net, gave the Golden Knights the lead again, 2-1, at 9:36 of the third game on a pass from Eichel just inside the blue line.