Cutter Gauthier scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play 5:51 into the third period as part of a two-goal performance, and the visiting Anaheim Ducks beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Monday night.
The game marked the return of Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba after both players were dealt to Anaheim since the start of last season.
Kreider’s 13-year career with the Rangers ended when he was traded to the Ducks on June 12 and Trouba’s tenure with the Rangers ended with a trade to Anaheim on Dec. 6, 2024.
Kreider received a lengthy video tribute with 11:03 left in the first period and Trouba received a shorter tribute during the next timeout with 9:35 left.
As a hooking penalty to New York defenseman Will Borgen expired, the Ducks easily carried the puck out of the offensive zone. Olen Zellweger spotted Beckett Sennecke along the boards near the penalty boxes and made a clean pass.
Sennecke skated by J.T. Miller into the offensive zone and sent a cross-ice pass to Gauthier, who ripped a shot from the high slot over goalie Igor Shesterkin’s blocker.
Jackson LaCombe picked up a short-handed goal 7:18 into the second period to open the scoring and the Ducks held the lead until Matthew Robertson scored on a fluky bounce with 3:42 left in the second.
Gauthier added an empty-net goal with 21.6 seconds left and Pavel Mintyukov also scored in the waning seconds.
Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal made 26 saves as the Ducks avoided their second three-game losing streak this season.
Shesterkin stopped 22 shots as the Rangers dropped to 4-9-3 at home and lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2).
The Ducks scored while serving a too many on the ice penalty as Trouba started the rush by clearing the defensive zone to Ryan Poehling.
Poehling raced down the right side and cut to the middle of the zone. After Poehling got by Artemi Panarin and had two shots stopped, LaCombe beat Vincent Trocheck to the loose puck at the right side of the crease, and the rebound banked off New York forward Will Cuylle’s skate.
The Rangers tied the game late in the second as Robertson’s shot from the top of the zone bounced up and over Dostal. Dostal attempted to steer it away, but the puck banked off his stick.
Officials immediately waved it off for a high stick but determined the goal counted since replays showed Trocheck swinging at the puck in front of the crease without making contact.
–Field Level Media
