In Anaheim, California, Cutter Gauthier scored his 25th goal, leading the Ducks to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken in their final game before the Olympic break was paused. Alongside Gauthier, Jacob Trouba, Alex Killorn, and Ross Johnston found the net, helping Anaheim build a comfortable 4-0 lead and withstand a late Kraken rally. The Ducks have turned their season around, winning nine of their last 11 games after a streak of nine consecutive losses (0-8-1).
With this win, Anaheim moved within just one point of the Pacific Division lead and are now two points ahead of Seattle for third place. Seattle, riding a four-game winning streak and holding five wins in their last six outings, was dominant early but couldn’t overcome the Ducks’ defense in the end. Lukas Dostal played a pivotal role, earning his 20th point when Jordan Eberle tipped Jared McCann’s slap shot in front of him with about four and a half minutes remaining, giving Anaheim its first shutout in 137 games. Dostal’s shutout was threatened when Shane Wright’s pinball-style puck found the net to cut the lead to 4-2 with about 2:30 left; yet, Dostal made several more key saves, including a shot off the post by Chandler Stevenson as time expired, finishing with 26 saves.
For Anaheim, Jansen Harkins and defenseman Jackson Lacombe each contributed two assists, marking Harkins’ first assists after he scored three goals over the season. The Ducks also improved their home record to 17-8-1. Meanwhile, Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots for the Kraken.
The game’s scoring opened at 4:01 of the second period when Gauthier snapped a shot from the top of the right circle during a Ducks power play. Trouba extended Anaheim’s lead to 2-0 with a slap shot from the right point just before the period ended. In the third, Killorn scored from a sharp angle shortly after the start, and Johnston added another at 13:54 to push the score to 4-0. Anaheim’s goaltending unit also set a franchise record for the longest shutout streak—the last time they kept opponents from scoring was on October 12, 2024, with Dostal making 26 saves in a 2-0 win over San Jose, which was last season’s only shutout.
Looking ahead, the Kraken will conclude their trip with a game against Los Angeles on Wednesday night, while the Ducks will host the Edmonton Oilers after the break on February 25.
Fan Take: This game exemplifies how young talent like Cutter Gauthier can make a significant impact, energizing fans and boosting team confidence. Such performances could be a sign of brighter things ahead for the Ducks’ future, adding excitement to the NHL’s evolving landscape.
