Anaheim Secures Key Victory Ahead of Olympic Break
Cutter Gauthier scored his 25th goal of the season, helping the Anaheim Ducks take down the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Tuesday night in their final matchup before the Olympic break.
The Ducks continued their recent hot streak, winning for the ninth time in 11 games, and now sit just one point behind the Pacific Division lead. They also leapfrogged the Kraken for third place, although Seattle still has a game in hand.
Ducks Jump Out Early, Withstand Late Surge
Anaheim built a commanding 4-0 lead with goals from Jacob Trouba, Alex Killorn, and Ross Johnston, alongside Gauthier’s power-play tally. The Ducks were cruising until Seattle mounted a late push.
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Jordan Eberle spoiled the shutout bid with his team-leading 20th goal, deflecting a Jared McCann shot past Lukas Dostal with 4:30 left.
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Just two minutes later, Shane Wright was credited with a goal after the puck deflected in off his body following a miscue by Dostal, narrowing the score to 4-2.
Seattle nearly completed the comeback as Chandler Stephenson hit the post in the final minutes, but Dostal stood tall, finishing the night with 26 saves.
Key Players and Performances
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Cutter Gauthier (ANA): 25th goal of the season, opening the scoring on a snapshot seconds after a power play expired.
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Lukas Dostal (ANA): 26 saves, came within minutes of Anaheim’s first shutout in 137 games.
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Jacob Trouba (ANA): Scored on a blistering slap shot with less than a minute left in the second period.
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Jordan Eberle (SEA): Netted his 20th goal; continues to lead the Kraken in scoring.
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Philipp Grubauer (SEA): Made 27 saves in net for Seattle.
Takeaways
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Anaheim Ducks: This win underscores their momentum, now 17-8-1 at home, and firmly back in contention after enduring a nine-game losing skid earlier in the season. Jansen Harkins (2 assists) and Jackson LaCombe also made notable contributions.
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Seattle Kraken: The late rally showed resilience, but defensive lapses early cost them. With a game in hand, they’ll need to bounce back quickly to remain competitive in the tight Pacific race.
Key Stat
Anaheim’s streak without a shutout now stands at 137 games, the longest active drought in the NHL. Their last clean sheet came in October 2024.
What’s Next
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Seattle Kraken: Wrap up their road trip Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings before the Olympic break.
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Anaheim Ducks: Get an extended rest and return on Feb. 25 to host the Edmonton Oilers.
