Cutter Gauthier scores equalizer, OT-winner in Ducks' furious comeback over Calgary, 4-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The comeback kids did it again.

Scoreless entering the third period and down two goals after tying the game, the Never-Say-Die Anaheim Ducks scored twice in nine seconds with back-to-back strikes from Frank Vatrano and Cutter Gauthier, and Gauthier rifled his second goal of the game in overtime to blow the roof off Honda Center and down the Calgary Flames, 4-3, on Wednesday.

It was Anaheim’s ninth third-period comeback of the season, second-most in the NHL, and it was the third time in franchise history the Ducks had erased a two-goal deficit in the final four minutes of a victory.

“It’s awesome,” Vatrano said. “We've done it all year. We knew that was a big game for that team, so we just had to bear down them. I've been in those positions before when you're chasing a playoff spot and your sticks kind of get a little tighter and tighter as the score gets closer. It’s great for team morale. Just a great win.”

Trevor Zegras tied the game, 1-1, before Vatrano’s one-timer–his first goal in 14 games–and Gauthier’s five-hole snipe nine seconds apart tied the game up again, 3-3. Gauthier’s overtime strike was his fourth goal in two games.

With Gauthier’s overtime marker, he became the third rookie in Ducks history with multiple goals in consecutive games following Bobby Ryan and Trevor Zegras and the second rookie in franchise history with multiple overtime winners following Cam Fowler.

“Just trying to shoot as much as I can,” Gauthier said. “Coach has been harping on that we won't shoot pucks enough, so I'm trying to make up for some of the guys that don't like to shoot it as much. Just trying to get pucks on net and hopefully they go in.”

Both of Gauthier’s goals were set up by the speed combination between the 21-year-old rookie and his 20-year-old sophomore center, Leo Carlsson. 

Carlsson drove the middle to dish to Gauthier on the game-tying goal, and in overtime, the swift Swede burst up the right boards and cut to the middle to find Gauthier in the open lane behind the driving Olen Zellweger for the game-winning rocket.

“Him and I became really close friends over the course of these last seven, eight months during the season here.” Gauthier said. “He's been a great person to go through the first NHL season in the grind. Anytime we can use our speed against defenders, we're looking to do it. He's really good at transporting the puck and skating through the neutral zone. and I just try to keep up with him sometimes to try to get a shot on net.

“The more times we can use it, the better for us.”

Anaheim killed off six opposing power plays for the second consecutive game, as goaltender Ville Husso stopped 36 shots for his first win as a Duck in his third start with Anaheim. 

Lukáš Dostál had started five of the previous six games with six straight appearances due to a lower-body injury to John Gibson.

“Winning is always fun, and made it interesting there at the end,” Husso said. “They made it 3-1, and then we still found a way to come back. It's a big win for the boys. Tells about the group a lot like never giving up. I've been here a short time, but it's just a good group of guys and we play for each other.”

Mikael Backlund scored on a second-period deflection, and Yegor Sharangovich popped in a third-period rebound for the go-ahead goal. Matt Coronato scored for a two-goal advantage, before the Ducks stormed back to equalize. Dustin Wolf made 19 saves.

Anaheim (35-35-8, 76 points) are back to .500 for the first time in eight days with four games remaining. The Ducks have not been above .500 since March 4.

The Ducks will head up to Los Angeles for the final round of the Freeway Face-Off on Thursday. Anaheim will host its home finale on Sunday against Colorado.

The referees were involved in the first period, but neither team benefitted from the officials legislation.

Calgary was held without a shot on its first power play of the game and racked up three shots on its second without a goal.

Anaheim thought it earned a four-minute power play, as the referees initially called a double-minor on Adam Klapka for a stick to the mouth of Radko Gudas. The Ducks captain writhed in pain and went straight to the locker room, but upon review, the referees determined that Klapka was “shooting the puck” from the corner with his back turned to the net. The resulting damage was then deemed on a follow through, and thus, no penalty.

The Ducks eventually got a power play but registered just one shot. Anaheim is scoreless on its last eight man-advantages and has converted just two of its last 16 and three of its last 41.

Calgary came up empty on another power play early in the second period, but the Flames finally broke through Husso late in the middle frame. The Ducks struggled to clear the puck throughout the period, and ultimately, a turnover came back to bite them with 5:42 left in the second. 

Joel Hanley held the zone and fed MacKenzie Weegar at the right point, who shot through the now-open slot where Mikael Backlund reached out to deflect the game’s opening score, 1-0, with 5:42 left in the period.

Cutter Gauthier’s speed nearly sparked a shorthanded marker in the final minute, but Wolf snuffed out the cross-crease shot from Isac Lundestrom. Anaheim killed off Calgary’s fourth power play to head to the third period down a goal.

“That was a real strange game,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “Had no rhythm to it. We could not get into a rhythm in the game… Just kept saying after each period, it's just gonna be one of those nights where it's like a shift-to-shift game and you gotta try and win your battles. We weren't winning a lot of them five on five, but I thought the third period we finally got some open ice and it got some of those rush opportunities.”

After killing off two more Calgary penalties in the third period, Anaheim finally found the scoresheet.

Oliver Kylington sent a diagonal pass from the left point to Trevor Zegras in the right circle, and after holding his eyes on a passing lane, Zegras picked the top corner to equalize, 1-1, with 8:11 to play.

The Ducks momentum lasted just two minutes before Calgary bounced back ahead.

Husso couldn’t close his glove on a shot, and Yegor Sharangovich got two whacks at the rebound to force the puck through Husso, 2-1, with 6:15 remaining.

Less than 90 seconds later, Calgary went up by two, as Backlund shot off Husso’s pads on the rush and Matt Coronato put home the rebound, 3-1.

Less than a minute later, the Ducks scored on back-to-back strikes nine seconds apart to bring this game back even and win in the extra session.

Game Notes:

• Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba and goaltender John Gibson both missed their third straight game with a lower-body injury. Trouba did participate in the morning skate on Wednesday, but Gibson is unlikely to return this season.

• Anaheim forward Brett Leason traded spots with Jansen Harkins in the press box as the healthy scratch. Harkins was a healthy scratch for the first time in 20 games on Monday but was back on the fourth line with Nikita Nesterenko and Isac Lundestrom on Wednesday.