The Anaheim Ducks open their 2026-27 season against the same team that ended their playoff run last season when they meet the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night in Las Vegas.

Anaheim finished third in the Pacific Division with a 43-33-6 record and 92 points, just three points behind the first-place Golden Knights. That earned the Ducks their first playoff berth in eight years.

After surprising the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in six games in the first round, Anaheim lost to Vegas in six games in the second round, capped by a 5-1 defeat in Game 6 in Anaheim on May 14.

"I think exiting that year in the playoffs, getting two rounds in is something we can build off of," second-year Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said.

The big offseason news for Anaheim was the saga surrounding star center Leo Carlsson.

The second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, who scored 29 goals and had 67 points in 70 games last season, sent ripples through the NHL when he inked a five-year, $90 million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Ducks eventually matched the offer to retain their young star, making him the league's highest-paid player for a short time at $18 million per year.

Carlsson, who had four goals and seven assists in 12 playoff games, said he welcomes the spotlight that accompanies his new contract.

"It's going to be a special feeling, having this pressure," the 21-year-old said. "I always wanted to be a Duck. It's my home, too. I'm super excited to be back."

Anaheim also inked forward Cutter Gauthier, who led the team with 41 goals and 69 points, to a six-year deal worth $13.5 million per year.

Quenneville said it's important for the Ducks to get off to a strong start in what is expected to be a very competitive Pacific Division.

"I know teams are going to be ready for us," Quenneville said. "I think our same objective going into the season (is) that we want to get off to a strong start. We know our division is going to be more competitive. ... I know expectations are going to be higher across the board. That's healthy."

Vegas cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in its season opener on Tuesday night in Ryan Craig's debut as head coach.

Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists, reaching the 700-point mark in his career, and Victor Olofsson, rookie Trevor Connelly, Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone also scored for the Golden Knights. Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore and Ivan Barbashev each had two assists and Carter Hart made 24 saves.

Craig was an assistant for the Golden Knights during their first six seasons before spending three years as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. He replaced John Tortorella as the team's fifth head coach on June 17.

"Proud of our guys and our effort," Craig said. "We won Game 1. That's what we wanted, set out to accomplish."

"For the most part, we played the right way," McNabb added. "We checked well. We got pucks back and played well in the zone. We kind of got away from us a little bit in the second, but we dialed it back in and responded well after they scored. So, it was a good 60 minutes."

--Field Level Media