The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up their road trip with a thrilling win over the Montreal Canadiens. Lukas Dostal took the net for Anaheim, facing off against Jacob Fowler. Notably, John Carlson made his debut for the Ducks.
Anaheim came out strong, grabbing an early lead in the first period. Leo Carlsson found the back of the net after a slick tic-tac-toe passing play with Chris Kreider and Troy Terry, putting the Ducks up 1-0.
Carlsson struck again at the start of the second period, extending Anaheim's lead to 2-0 with a one-timer from the slot, taking advantage of a screen in front of Fowler.
The Canadiens, however, mounted a comeback with goals from Alex Newhook, Cole Caulfield, and Nick Suzuki, flipping the script to lead 3-2.
Troy Terry brought the Ducks back level with a crafty backhand that deflected in, tying the game at three as the second period came to a close.
In the final minutes, Cutter Gauthier delivered the decisive blow. Jeffrey Viel set him up with a slick behind-the-back pass, and Gauthier capitalized with a five-hole shot to secure a 4-3 victory for Anaheim. Despite Montreal pulling their goalie, the Ducks held firm to clinch the win.
The Ducks showed resilience, bouncing back after surrendering the lead. Their ability to regroup and find the net late in the game showcased their determination.
This matchup was another exciting chapter in the Ducks-Canadiens rivalry, reminiscent of their previous high-scoring encounter in Anaheim. Gauthier’s late heroics ensured no overtime was needed this time around.
Special teams didn’t play a major role in this game, with Anaheim going scoreless on their lone power play and effectively killing off all four of Montreal’s opportunities.
John Carlson may not have hit the scoresheet in his debut, but his play was influential, logging significant ice time and contributing to Carlsson’s opening goal.
Troy Terry’s return was a game-changer. He was pivotal, scoring once and assisting on two goals, proving his value to the team.
Leo Carlsson was in top form, netting two goals and nearly completing a hat trick with several close calls on the empty net.
With this win, the Ducks reclaimed the top spot in the Pacific Division, nudging ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights. Gauthier’s goal marked his team-leading 34th of the season. Meanwhile, Mason McTavish was a healthy scratch for this matchup.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday at 7 PM.