Ducks star Cutter Gauthier gets 100% real after 2nd career hat trick in Senators win

Cutter Gauthier led the Anaheim Ducks to a dramatic 6-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, marking his second career NHL hat trick. The sniper scored the team’s first, fourth, and fifth goals, with the last two coming in a 30-second span in the third period on the power play. This win ended the Ducks' two-game losing streak and improved their record to 6-7-1.

Gauthier told reporters, "Trying to keep it simple, a lot of volume shooting. The more I get pucks on the net, if they’re not going in, they’re creating good opportunities for my teammates and creating chaos." The Ducks trailed 3-0 after the first period, but goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who made his second NHL appearance in three seasons after being recalled from AHL San Diego, helped the Ducks turn the tide.

Judd Caulfield scored twice for the Ducks, while rookie Roger McQueen added another goal and Leo Carlsson provided three assists. Despite the win, the Ducks have had a challenging start to the season, with several key players departing in free agency and a mass exodus leaving the team. Nonetheless, they remain playoff hopefuls in the Western Conference and will aim to secure two wins in a row with a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.