The Anaheim Ducks secured their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-2 at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday. Cutter Gauthier and Pavel Mintyukov each contributed a goal and an assist for Anaheim, which improved its record to 27-21-3. The Ducks had previously lost nine straight games before starting their current winning streak on January 13.
Chris Kreider and Ryan Poehling also scored for the Ducks. Goaltender Lukas Dostal made 20 saves in the victory.
For Seattle, Jared McCann and Jaden Schwartz found the net, but the team has now dropped seven of its last nine games, bringing its record to 22-19-9. Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots for the Kraken.
Gauthier opened scoring early in the first period, taking a pass from Jeffrey Viel at the blue line and shooting past defenseman Vince Dunn for a quick lead. Poehling added a short-handed goal later in the period after being set up by Ian Moore.
McCann narrowed Anaheim’s lead early in the second period with a wrist shot off a feed from Jordan Eberle. Kreider restored Anaheim’s two-goal advantage with a power-play goal minutes later, capitalizing on Gauthier’s rebound.
Seattle had an opportunity to get closer when Jansen Harkins was awarded a penalty shot midway through the second period, but Grubauer made a poke check save to deny him.
In the third period, Schwartz redirected Shane Wright’s pass into an open net to bring Seattle within one goal. However, Mintyukov sealed Anaheim’s win with an empty-net goal late in regulation.
After this result, Anaheim continues its strong run since mid-January while Seattle struggles to regain momentum as they move further into the season.
