ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Cutter Gauthier’s first NHL goal lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a comeback victory, 6-4, against the Detroit Red Wings Friday night.
When the Red Wings led 3-1 two minutes into the second period, Anaheim looked poised for another disappointing loss.
A Trevor Zegras power play goal got the Ducks to within a score with a couple minutes left in the second, but it was the third that sealed Anaheim’s victory.
“As the game went on, we started to get more and more possessions. And then we got the power plays,” said Greg Cronin, Ducks head coach. “When we don’t get any chances in the power play, the crowd boos us, it gets deflating, guys are frustrated on the bench. It worked the other way in the second.”
Anaheim scored a whopping four goals in the third — tying their most in a period this season (the first came against the San Jose Sharks in a 4-3 victory in September).
Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger had a particularly impactful night, starting the scoring off in the first period and tallying two assists. He was able to facilitate and move pucks quickly on the power play.
To that end, in the third, Troy Terry tied the score four minutes in with a shot assisted by Zellweger and Leo Carlsson, good for his team-leading sixth score of the season.
Seven minutes later, Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal, assisted by fellow Boston College alums Drew Helleson and Brian Dumoulin.
“Obviously, it was everything I’ve dreamt of,” Gauthier said. “I was glad it went five-hole. It was just a surreal moment.”
Guathier’s been due for his first NHL goal, having taken 36 shots in his rookie campaign.
The Ducks went up by two goals with a score from Ross Johnston, and despite a Red Wings power play goal, Ryan Strome’s empty netter put the Ducks up by two again which sealed the game.
Ducks longtime goalie John Gibson started his second game of the season and saved 21-of-25 shots.
The Ducks were short handed in the comeback win, playing without forward Robby Fabbri, who will miss the next 6-8 weeks with arthroscopic knee surgery, and Cam Fowler, who will miss the next 2-4 weeks. Mason McTavish is day-to-day.
Helleson, who was called up from the San Diego Gulls, tallied two assists in Friday’s game.
The Ducks improved their record to 6-8-2 on the season, and finished off an unlucky six-game homestand stretch on a high note with two wins and four losses.
Next, the Ducks will play two away games, first against the Dallas Stars Monday night at 5 p.m.