A complete of 550 of these video games belonged to 5 gamers, with two others combining for the opposite 9.
That’s proper — 13 skaters on the ice for Geese for a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Middle had not performed within the postseason earlier than this spring.
Trailing 2-1 within the best-of-7 collection with an important Recreation 4 right here on Sunday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, SN, TVAS), the expertise of these 5 veterans will help the younger Geese cope with the newest ups and downs and the strain that comes with expectations being raised.
“I feel it’s (the strain) slowly rising, as a result of the sport simply means a lot extra,” ahead Beckett Sennecke mentioned earlier than Recreation 3. “Each subsequent sport is the most important sport of the 12 months. All of us really feel that weight in right here, however on the similar time, that’s what we work for and we’re ready.”
One purpose they’re ready is the sage recommendation {and professional} method from their veterans, 4 of whom have been with Anaheim all season and one who was introduced in forward of the NHL Commerce Deadline on March 6.
“Our expertise is nice,” mentioned Geese coach Joel Quenneville, who had been behind the bench for 225 playoff video games earlier than this season. “And I feel we’ve bought, you already know, for every older man, they’ve bought a type of a youthful man they will seize and educate him by what you say or what you do, and that is, that is an excellent state of affairs to be in as a coach.”
The expertise and resumes of these 5 veterans are spectacular.
The chief is ahead Alex Killorn, 36, who earlier than this season, performed 140 postseason video games, successful the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021). He’s been with the Geese because the 2023-24 season.
Subsequent up is defenseman John Carlson, 36, acquired by the Geese earlier than the Commerce Deadline, who introduced them 137 video games of playoff expertise and a Stanley Cup championship with the Washington Capitals (2018).
Ahead Chris Kreider, 35, acquired in a commerce with the New York Rangers on June 12, 2025, performed 123 postseason video games with New York, making 5 journeys to the Jap Convention Remaining and one journey to the Cup Remaining (2014).
Defenseman Jacob Trouba, 32, performed in two of these convention finals with Kreider, and within the Western Convention Remaining with the Winnipeg Jets in 2018 as a part of 73 playoff video games. Trouba got here to Anaheim in a commerce with the Rangers on Dec. 6, 2024.
Ahead Mikael Granlund, 34, performed within the convention closing with the Dallas Stars a 12 months in the past, and had performed 77 postseason video games earlier than this season, his first with the Geese after being traded to them on July 1, 2025.
The others in Anaheim’s lineup Friday with earlier playoff expertise have been ahead Ross Johnston (5 video games) and Jansen Harkins (4).
“All of us requested them initially of the playoff spherical, ‘What’s it like?’ and so they simply mentioned, ‘Each collection, the depth will get an increasing number of and extra,’” Sennecke mentioned. “They’re type of that core of our older guys again there, and that’s type of what our younger guys lean on.”
Ahead Leo Carlsson, who, together with ahead Troy Terry, leads the Geese this postseason with 10 factors (4 objectives, six assists), mentioned having gamers within the room who’ve been by means of the postseason wars helps the staff hold issues in perspective.
“They know to not be, I imply weren’t confused, however to be calm nonetheless,” Carlsson mentioned. “It’s a whole lot of video games, a whole lot of collection, they’ve gained Cups, too, so that they know the way onerous it’s to win the Cup.”
Ahead Jeffrey Viel, who mentioned he thought the Geese “weren’t able to play” Recreation 3, mentioned it’s on the veterans and everybody within the room to be higher.
“They’ve been there earlier than, proper?” Viel mentioned. “So, it’s about being vocal and speaking to the staff. And everybody simply has to lift their degree. That was the message as we speak, and it’s as much as us to reply that.”
Although Anaheim’s roster has loads of playoff expertise with the 5 veterans, it’s a staff pushed by its younger stars in forwards Carlsson, 21, Sennecke, 20, Cutter Gauthier, 22, and defenseman Jackson LaCombe, 25.
Carlson believes it makes for an fascinating dynamic.
“I feel it is a two-way avenue too,” the veteran defenseman mentioned. “I feel that these youthful guys have completed an outstanding job with stepping proper in and making large leaps, of huge performs, and having the ability to rise to the event.
“So, I feel in the event that they ask you one thing, yeah, after all. However there isn’t any secret sauce. The superstars from every staff are generally a number of the youthful guys, anyway, so I feel it is only a mindset factor.”
Quenneville additionally identified how his gamers getting their first style of playoff hockey are succeeding, giving them a method he hopes can add to extra wins.
“Definitely, these guys have had all had good playoffs up to now, on this collection, or this 12 months, and we’re seeking to get somewhat bit extra from everyone,” Quenneville mentioned.