CALGARY — Cutter Gauthier continued one of the most remarkable goal-scoring stretches of the season on Friday night, wiring home the game-winning goal late in the third period to propel the Anaheim Ducks to a dramatic 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Gauthier’s game-winner extended his personal goal streak to five consecutive games and completed a resilient comeback for Anaheim, which trailed 3-2 entering the final period. The victory marked the fourth straight win for the surging Ducks, who improved their record to 9-7-1 on the season. Conversely, the loss snapped a formidable five-game home winning streak for the Flames, dropping Calgary’s overall record to 7-9-1.
After finding themselves on their heels early and trailing through 40 minutes, the Ducks demonstrated remarkable poise in the final frame. Alongside Gauthier’s late heroics, Anaheim received goals from Jeff Malott, Tristan Luneau, Leo Carlsson, and an empty-net sealer from Nikita Nesterenko. Rookies and veterans alike drove the offense, with Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund each collecting two assists, while Carlsson recorded a goal and an assist to extend his own personal point streak to seven games.
Calgary appeared to have control of the contest in the opening period, capitalizing on a shaky start by Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal. The Flames built their early momentum on goals from William Stromgren, Joel Hanley, and Joel Farabee. Morgan Frost and rookie blueliner Zayne Parekh anchored the Calgary offense with two assists apiece. However, the Flames were ultimately unable to protect their lead over the final 20 minutes as Anaheim’s special teams and high-octane attack took over the game.
The contest began with an explosive opening period that saw the Flames attack relentlessly on home ice. Dostal faced immediate pressure between the pipes for Anaheim, surrendering three goals on just 11 shots across the opening 20 minutes. With Calgary surging and the Ducks needing a spark to reset their defensive structure, the decision was made to make a change in net ahead of the second period.
Relief goaltender Ville Husso stepped onto the ice under challenging circumstances. In his previous appearance, Husso had endured a grueling outing in which he allowed seven goals. However, the veteran netminder provided exactly the stabilizing force his team required on Friday night. Husso was immaculate in relief, stopping all 10 shots he faced over the final two periods to keep Calgary off the scoreboard for the remainder of the evening. His flawless performance earned him his second victory of the campaign, improving his record to 2-3-0.
Opposing Husso was Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, who was making his third consecutive start for Calgary. Wolf turned aside 24 of the 28 shots he faced on the night but was ultimately charged with the loss, falling to 3-5-1 on the season.
Despite facing a 3-2 deficit heading into the third period, the Ducks seized momentum almost immediately following the intermission break. Just 17 seconds into the final frame, Calgary forward Matt Coronato was whistled for a delay of game penalty, handing Anaheim a crucial power-play opportunity.
Capitalizing on one of the league’s most lethal man-advantage units, Anaheim needed only 38 seconds to strike. At the 0:55 mark of the third period, Carlsson buried his sixth goal of the season past Wolf to tie the game at 3-3. The power-play equalizer showcased the sharpness of the Ducks’ ball-movement and set the stage for an intense push by both sides in the closing minutes of regulation.
As the period wore on, both teams battled for position, but it was Anaheim’s top offensive talent that delivered the decisive blow. With under two minutes remaining in regulation, Granlund executed a crisp pass across the zone to Gauthier, who set his feet and blasted a one-timer past Wolf at 18:26. The clutch strike was Gauthier’s 12th goal of the season and highlighted an extraordinary individual run, marking his 10th goal overall during his current five-game goal streak.
With Calgary pulling Wolf in a desperate attempt to find an equalizer in the dying moments, Nesterenko sealed the 5-3 triumph by depositing the puck into the empty net, completing a four-goal unanswered stretch for the visiting Ducks.
Anaheim’s secondary scoring and playmaking depth were vital throughout the comeback effort. Alongside Granlund’s pair of primary helpers—including the set-up on Gauthier’s winner—Sennecke was heavily involved in facilitating the attack, finishing with two assists. Defenseman Jackson LaCombe also chipped in with a crucial assist, continuing his historic individual campaign from the blueline.
For the Flames, the defeat spoiled a promising start that featured strong individual efforts across their lineup. Stromgren, Hanley, and Farabee provided early energy, while Frost and Parekh consistently generated opportunities from the back end and high slot. However, Calgary’s inability to stay out of the penalty box early in the third period proved costly against an opponent capitalizing on nearly every special teams opportunity.
TAKEAWAYS
Ducks: Defenseman Jackson LaCombe continued his extraordinary play, collecting an assist to extend his personal point streak to nine games. Over that nine-game span, LaCombe has amassed 13 points (0-13-13), establishing a new Anaheim Ducks franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman in team history. In doing so, LaCombe surpassed legendary Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer, who set a previous mark during the 2006-07 championship season, as well as former All-Star blueliner Oleg Tverdovsky, who established his own impressive run during the 1999-00 campaign.
Flames: Veteran defenseman Joel Hanley made his return to the Calgary lineup, appearing in his first game since Oct. 3. Hanley was pressed into service as a late replacement when blue-liner Kevin Bahl was ruled out prior to puck drop due to a lower-body injury. Hanley made an immediate impact by scoring his first goal of the season in the opening period. Meanwhile, forward Joel Farabee continued his remarkable home-ice success by scoring in his fifth consecutive game at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Farabee became the first Flames player to record a five-game home goal streak since Elias Lindholm scored in seven consecutive home contests during the 2021-22 season.
KEY MOMENT
The critical turning point of the game occurred midway through the second period with Calgary holding a 3-2 lead and operating on the power play. Looking to extend their advantage to two goals, the Flames worked the puck down low to Matt Coronato, who fired a quick shot from point-blank range. Husso reacted instantly, stretching out his leg to make a spectacular pad save on Coronato’s in-close effort. The clutch stop kept the Ducks within striking distance and prevented Calgary from taking total control of the contest, laying the groundwork for Anaheim’s third-period surge.
KEY STAT
Anaheim’s special teams unit continued an astonishing run of efficiency. Over their past five games, the Ducks’ power play has converted on a staggering 13 of 23 opportunities with the man advantage. The current surge represents a massive turnaround for the franchise; after finishing the previous season ranked 23rd in the NHL on the power play, the Ducks entered Friday night’s matchup boasting the No. 2 power-play unit in the entire league.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Anaheim returns home to southern California to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
Flames: Calgary remains at home as they prepare to entertain the Philadelphia Flyers at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday.