Gauthier Leads Anaheim To Victory With Hat Trick

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks closed out their three game homestand against the Florida Panthers. Lukas Dostal was in net against Sergei Bobrovsky.

The Ducks took the lead just over three minutes into this contest. Leo Carlsson found Cutter Gauthier in the neutral zone. He got behind the Florida defense on a breakaway and scored five-hole

Halfway through the period Brad Marchand scored on his own breakaway.

Anaheim retook the lead with just under five minutes to go in the period. Troy Terry found Gauthier at the right face-off circle and he scored on a one timer. The Ducks led 2-1 after the first period.

Florida tied the game once again just one five minutes into the middle frame. Evan Rodrigues beat Dostal glove side on a breakaway.

The Panthers then took the lead just over halfway in the second period. Rodrigues brought the puck down to the side of the net and found Eetu Luostarinen in the slot of the score on the power play.

Gauthier answered back about five minutes later to tie game with his first career hat trick. He one-timed a puck from the right face-off circle on the power play.

Nikita Nesterenko then scored shortly after to give the Ducks a 4-3 lead. He got to a loose puck at the side of the net and slammed home the rebound. Anaheim led 4-3 after two periods.

Jacob Trouba made it a 5-3 contest just cover halfway through the third period. After Mason McTavish took a point shot, Trouba got to the the loose puck in front of the net for the tap in score.

Chris Kreider then scored as he deflected a Nesterenko shot into the net. Jansen Harkins then made it 7-3 with a great individual effort. He tried to score in close and was denied, but he stayed with the play shooting his own rebound into the net.

Anaheim went on to win 7-3.

Analysis:

It was the Gauthier show in this contest. Cutter scored a natural hat trick in the first two periods and then four different Ducks players scored en route to a 7-3 smack down of the Florida Panthers. Ducks finish the season series 2-0-0 against the Panthers.

The Ducks played well overall posting a CF% of 54.84% and FF% of 51.47% at even strength. Anaheim put up 51 shot attempts to 42 for Florida. The Ducks also had 16 high danger chances to 11 for the Panthers.

Anaheim had a slight advantage in the special teams with two goal sin seven power play chances. Florida scored once in five man advantages. A big momentum change came in the beginning of the third period. The Ducks were on a power play and Leo Carlsson was called for a questionable major penalty for interference. Florida ended up with about three minutes of a major power play, but Anaheim kept them off the board. It was the perfect opportunity for the Panthers to tie the game up, but they were able to do it.

The Ducks ended up scoring the next three goals after killing the Carlsson penalty to take control of this game. Anaheim was also without Leo for almost the entire third period, but it didn’t phase them as they poured it on en route to a 7-3 victory.

Team Stats/Notes

Cutter Gauthier scored his first career hat rick and is tied for the NHL lead in goals scored with 10.

Gauthier tied the team record for reaching 10 goals in 12 games as previously achieved by Corey Perry (2014-15), Steve Thomas (2002-03) and Paul Kariya (1995-96).

Troy Terry registered his 300th career NHL point.

The Anaheim Ducks have 17 points in their first 12 games this season, which is their best start through 12 games since the 2014-15 since (9-3-0, 18 points).

Anaheim is in first place in the Pacific Division with 17 points.

What’s Next?

The Ducks travel to Dallas to face the Stars Thursday at 5PM.

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Nov 4th, 2025