Graney: Golden Knights fortunate to be tied in playoff series with Ducks

So you can awake today with this truth: The Vegas Golden Knights are all sorts of fortunate to be tied with the Anaheim Ducks in this best-of-seven playoff series.

It might be 1-1 after an Anaheim victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night, but don’t for a second doubt which has been the better team.

The much faster team.

The team that is Utah all over again … but just a lot better.

There was nothing consistent about the Knights in this one, especially in their offensive zone. There was nothing that bothered the Ducks all that much until the third period, when the Knights found themselves a little and made somewhat of a push. It wasn’t enough.

“We have some things to work on,” Knights coach John Tortorella said. “We had some almost plays. I think we need to have the puck more in their end. A lot of times we were one-and-done. We need to put more pressure on them.

“I have full trust we’re going to find our way and try to play our best game. That certainly hasn’t happened, but I feel we’re going to get there.”

Killing penalties

The numbers to start might have painted a picture of more of the same from Game 1 for the Knights (a 3-1 victory for them, by the way), but it was difficult to tell.

Given how much time they spent in the box.

Vegas had eight penalty minutes over those opening 20, bringing to light again what has been a savior of a penalty kill.

They killed off all four penalties and exited the period 23-of-24 against opposing power plays during these playoffs.

“I think it’s all of them,” Tortorella said. “(Goalie Carter Hart) has made some really good saves. I just think the whole group has worked really off one another very well. Being aggressive but not too aggressive.”

Said Knights captain Mark Stone: “It doesn’t help when you’re killing eight out of the first 10 minutes of a game. We got the kills when we needed them, but just couldn’t get back on the saddle and get anything really cooking. I don’t think (the team’s game) is too far away. We’re 1-1 in (the series).”

You knew the Ducks would break through eventually in the second period, considering they seemingly spent the first 10 minutes in their offensive zone.

They gained a 1-0 advantage when Beckett Sennecke scored from in close after Anaheim won a puck battle. Sennecke was left all in front alone. Can’t happen with a goal scorer.

The Ducks are just relentless. They went up 2-0 on a Leo Carlsson goal when nobody picked him up on the weak side with 13:24 remaining in the third period.

Not a good look on either goal from the Knights defensively.

Turn the page?

It was all too similar a game from Monday evening. There were some tendencies in the third for Vegas, some of what Tortorella was speaking about, better management of the puck, winning more battles on the forecheck. They just couldn’t break through.

“It’s not so much turning the page,” Tortorella said about how to approach each game in a series. “I need to coach the team on how they played, no matter if it’s a win or a loss.

“A win is very important in the playoffs. Win the game, I don’t move on. If I moved on from the (Game 1) win then I’d be presenting to the team the wrong way the next day because we stole it.

“We have a number of things we need to be better at so I need to coach that way. Not so much coaching the result — as important as a result is — but I have to coach based on how our team is playing.”

They need to do something differently. You can bet line changes are coming.

The truth: Vegas is fortunate to be tied in a series that now moves to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4 beginning on Friday.

They need to get on the saddle and begin cooking.