Gauthier’s Second Straight Hat Trick Lifts Ducks Past Canucks

Gauthier recorded his second consecutive hat trick, and Anaheim held off Vancouver for a 5-4 road win. He is the first player in Ducks history to score three goals in back-to-back games.

Mikael Granlund had a goal and two assists, while Leo Carlsson scored short-handed and Beckett Sennecke contributed four assists. Anaheim goalie Laurent Brossoit made 19 saves. The Ducks converted all three of their power-play chances, with Gauthier scoring twice on the advantage.

Granlund opened the scoring on a power play early in the first period. Vancouver answered with Liam Ohgren’s man-advantage goal, but Gauthier gave Anaheim a 2-1 lead before the first intermission. He had also scored three times in the Ducks’ 6-3 win over Ottawa on Sunday, and has now found the net eight times over three consecutive outings, following nine scoreless games.

Jake DeBrusk scored twice for Vancouver, with Ohgren and Linus Karlsson adding one goal apiece. Elias Pettersson had two assists, and Kevin Lankinen stopped 17 shots. DeBrusk scored while Gauthier was in the penalty box in the third period, then cut the deficit to one with a point shot with just over 10 minutes remaining. Anaheim held on for the win.

The Ducks visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Vancouver’s next game is at the Winnipeg Jets, also on Thursday.