sportsgrid
VANCOUVER, B.C. — In a rematch of last week's disappointing loss to the league-worst Vancouver Canucks, the Anaheim Ducks flipped the script on Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. Behind a historic power-play performance and another hat trick from Cutter Gauthier, the Ducks skated away with a 5-4 victory, exacting revenge on the Canucks.
Gauthier became the first player in Ducks history to record hat tricks in back-to-back games, while Anaheim's power play continued its torrid pace. The Ducks have now scored 29 goals in their last five games and have converted 10 of 12 power-play opportunities in their last three contests.
Anaheim is just the 10th team in NHL history to score three power-play goals in three consecutive games, and the first since the then-Mighty Ducks accomplished the feat in March 2006. Their 10 power-play goals in three games are the most in the NHL since the 2008-09 Minnesota Wild, and Gauthier is the first player in league history to score multiple power-play goals in three straight games.
Mikael Granlund opened the scoring with the man advantage, and after Vancouver tied it on its own power play, Gauthier netted his first of two power-play markers. Leo Carlsson then scored shorthanded to give Anaheim a 3-1 lead, and Gauthier's second goal made it 4-2 after two periods.
Gauthier completed his hat trick less than five minutes into the third period, extending the lead to 5-2. He has now scored in just four games this season, but each has been a multi-goal effort. The 22-year-old is only the second player in Ducks history with three straight multi-goal games, joining Paul Kariya (2000-01), and his eight goals in the last three games are the most by a player age 22 or younger since Patrik Laine in 1998.
Beckett Sennecke assisted on all three of Gauthier's goals, recording his first career four-assist game. At 20 years, 279 days old, Sennecke is the youngest Duck ever to post four assists in a game, surpassing Ryan Getzlaf (20 years, 318 days) and Corey Perry (23 years, 168 days). He is also the fourth Duck in the last decade to achieve the feat, joining Getzlaf, Perry, and Nikita Nesterenko.
For Vancouver, Liam Ohgren scored on the power play to make it 1-1, and Linus Karlsson capitalized on a turnover to cut the deficit to 3-2. Jake DeBrusk added a power-play goal and an even-strength tally in the third period to bring the Canucks within one at 5-4, but they could not complete the comeback.
Laurent Brossoit made 19 saves on 23 shots in his second straight start for Anaheim since being recalled from AHL San Diego, while Kevin Lankinen stopped 17 shots for Vancouver.
Key Analysis
The Ducks' power play has been nothing short of spectacular, and Gauthier's scoring surge has been a major catalyst. His ability to find the back of the net in bunches has put him in elite company, and Sennecke's playmaking has provided a perfect complement. Anaheim's recent offensive explosion has masked some defensive lapses, but the team's special teams are currently operating at a historic clip.
Vancouver, despite the loss, showed resilience by battling back from a three-goal deficit. However, the Canucks' penalty kill struggled mightily against Anaheim's red-hot unit, and that proved to be the difference. The Ducks will look to carry this momentum into Edmonton on Thursday.
Game Notes: Nico Myatovic made his NHL debut, becoming the second player from Anaheim's 2023 draft class to play in the NHL (after Leo Carlsson). The Prince George, B.C., native was recalled from AHL San Diego to replace AJ Greer, who was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury after taking a blindside hit against Ottawa on Sunday. Jackson LaCombe extended his assist streak to eight games, tying Francois Beauchemin for the second-longest by a Ducks defenseman; Scott Niedermayer holds the franchise record with nine. Anaheim will debut its Hometown Remix jersey on Sunday against Pittsburgh; the alternate uniforms, part of a league-wide initiative, generated the Ducks' highest single-day jersey sales at their team store since the inaugural Mighty Ducks jersey in 1993.
Originally reported by sportsgrid.