ANAHEIM — The status quo wouldn’t cut it for Game 4 of the Ducks’ second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at Honda Center. Adjustments needed to be made to the lineup after the Golden Knights’ 6-2 rout Friday gave them a 2-1 series lead.
So, Ducks coach Joel Quenneville returned left wing Mason McTavish to the lineup after scratching him for Games 2 and 3. The Ducks were in desperate need for another weapon on a power play that had gone as dry as the Mojave Desert over the first three games of the series.
Vegas blanked the Ducks on 11 consecutive man-advantage chances over the first three games of the best-of-seven series. The Ducks led the playoffs by clicking on 8 of 16 power-play opportunities in six games in their opening-round victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
“A little bit,” McTavish said of being surprised to have been a healthy scratch for the past two games. “I thought I was playing decently, but we’ve got a lot of good guys and good players in here (the Ducks’ dressing room) who can fill roles. I’ve just got to play better. I’m ready to go.”
It appeared McTavish would replace Jansen Harkins. McTavish had one goal and three assists in seven games going into Game 4. Harkins had one goal, an empty-net score, in two games. McTavish, Ryan Poehling and Cutter Gauthier made up the third line at the morning skate.
Quenneville also considered returning team captain Radko Gudas to the lineup, seeking more on-ice leadership on defense after Mitch Marner torched the Ducks in Game 3 with his first playoff hat trick, including a deflating goal with mere seconds left in a disastrous first period that made it 3-0.
“It’s been one of the hardest experiences of my career,” Gudas said of sitting out since Game 1 of the Ducks’ opening-round series against the Oilers because of a lower-body injury. “I’m fortunate enough that they’re a great group, keeping me in the loop. We’re in this together.”
In addition, defenseman Drew Helleson was ruled out for Game 4 and right wing Ian Moore shifted back to defense, skating with Olen Zellweger as the extra pair during the morning skate. It appeared Moore would be the odd-man out if Gudas made his return to the lineup Sunday.
Gudas said it was “a game-time decision” as to whether he would play for the first time since a 4-3 loss to the Oilers on April 20. He had battled a lower-body injury during the final weeks of the regular season, but was in the lineup to start the playoffs before aggravating the injury.
“We’ll see,” Quenneville said of Gudas’ participation Sunday.
BACKING DOSTAL
Goaltender Lukas Dostal was set to reclaim the net after Quenneville pulled him after he gave up three goals on eight shots in the first period Friday. Ville Husso replaced Dostal, but was back on the bench for Game 4, with the Ducks hoping for a better game from their top goalie.
Dostal went into Game 4 with a less-than-stellar 3.48 goals-against average and an equally troubling .876 save percentage during the first playoff run of his career. Quenneville pulled him early in Game 3, the second time in nine playoff games he was replaced by Husso mid-game.
Gudas said he expected nothing less than a bounce-back game from Dostal, who set career highs with 30 victories during 55 starts in the regular season.
“He has shown this year and in his career that he’s a guy who can turn the page very quickly,” Gudas said. “He’s been there for us the whole year. He’s been for us on the (Czech) national team for big games and he thrives in those games that are a little more pressurized.
“So, I’m looking forward to seeing him play again.”