Breakthrough win by Ducks creates a long-awaited buzz

When Joel Quenneville took over the long-suffering Ducks nearly a year ago, the veteran head coach cautiously said he hoped to get his new team into contention this season for its first playoff spot since 2018.

- GREG BEACHAM

Photographs by ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times FANS get fired up during a clinching Game 6 win Thursday by the Ducks, who face Vegas in the semifinals.

His young, hungry Ducks made it to the playoffs, all right and they're clearly not just happy to be here.

After nearly winning the Pacific Division in a surprisingly strong regular season, these Ducks ended the franchise's eight-year postseason drought and now they've eliminated Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers with a six-game series victory in the first round.

Anaheim finished it off with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night, calmly dispatching its more experienced opponents with the poise and potency that this team has shown for long stretches this season. Quenneville could only applaud as his team took the next step on its journey. The Ducks open the Western Conference semifinals against Vegas, which eliminated Utah on Friday night in a Game 6 victory.

"It's a huge win," Quenneville said. "I'm happy for the players. I'm happy for the fans. And now we've got a taste of playoff hockey, and I think we can feel at this moment that it's so much fun playing games that have the meaning, and the building being as loud and excited as it is.