McTavish back, Dostal starts for Ducks in Game 4 of Western 2nd Round
McTavish, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, set NHL career highs in goals (22) and assists (30) last season and signed a six-year contract with the Ducks on Sept. 27, 2025. He had 13 goals and 17 assists through 49 games this season before missing five games in late January with an upper-body injury.
He was then limited to two assists over the next 13 games before he was scratched in back-to-back games in mid-March for the first time in his NHL career. He had nine points (four goals, five assists) over the final 14 games of the regular season to help the Ducks clinch their first playoff berth since 2018.
“It was tough,” McTavish said. “Every player in here is super passionate about playing, and playing well, and taking a lot of pride in that. When you get scratched, it’s kind of an eye-opener. Obviously, I wasn’t happy with my game. Neither were the coaches. I think we just worked on little things to get my game back to where it should be, and I expect a lot more from myself, still.”
McTavish had a goal and three assists through the first seven playoff games, including two power-play assists, before he was removed from the lineup.
“Good poise,” Ducks center Leo Carlsson said. “Great shot too when he gets the puck on the tee.”
Dostal has allowed a goal on the first shot of the game three times in these playoffs and 13 times overall. He signed a five-year contract with Anaheim on July 17, 2025.
“Hard to be our best player on the ice every game,” Carlsson said.
