Ducks Down Host Golden Knights 4-2 in Rookie Faceoff Opener

Tristan Luneau scored twice as the Ducks prospects kicked off the 2023 Rookie Faceoff Tournament with a 4-2 victory over the host Vegas Golden Knights tonight at Dollar Loan Center.

With a win in the opening tilt of a three-game tournament slate, Anaheim improved to 13-1-3 at the annual event since 2016. 

Luneau, Coulson Pitre and Pavel Mintyukov powered the Anaheim attack, with Mintyukov tallying the team's first power-play goal of the tournament. 

Calle Clang earned the win in his first Rookie Faceoff action for Anaheim, stopping 23-of-25 Vegas shots, most notably withstanding a first-period surge by the Golden Knights that threated to give the home side an early advantage.

Pitre began the scoring late in a first period, pouncing on a Vegas blue line turnover for a shorthanded breakaway and finishing on the sudden opportunity with a clean move to the backhand in tight.

A third-round pick at this summer's NHL Draft, Pitre totalled 60 points in 59 games last season for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Luneau scored his first of two on the night minutes later as the beneficiary of a beautiful pass by Leo Carlsson, a backdoor feed for a one-timer past Vegas netminder Jesper Vikman.

Luneau tallied two assists in three Rookie Faceoff games last season before earning Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Defenseman of the Year honors with the Gatineau Olympiques.

Carlsson, who Anaheim selected second overall in June, centered the club's top line alongside Pitre and Nikita Nesterenko.

After pulling back within one late in the second on a power-play goal, Vegas battled back to tie the game early in the third when Ty Cheveldayoff beat Clang off the rush on left wing.

But the game would remain tied for just two minutes as Anaheim went right back ahead, this time for good. After a couple of strong shifts deep in the Vegas zone, the eventual game-winner came off the stick of Luneau after a quality setup pass from camp invite Kyle Crnkovic parked behind the net.

Mintyukov then sealed the deal with under 10 minutes to play in the third, capitalizing on a Ducks 5-on-3 power play with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle.

The Ducks continue their Rookie Faceoff schedule Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche.