ANAHEIM – Cutter Gauthier scored at 3:57 of overtime to secure a 4-3 victory for the Anaheim Ducks over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday at Honda Center.
Gauthier, who also registered an assist, capitalized on a loose puck in front of the net to deliver the game-winning goal. Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry each contributed a goal and an assist, while Olen Zellweger added another goal for the Ducks, who improved their record to 14-7-1 and have now won three of their last four games. Goaltender Lukas Dostal made 29 saves.
For the Golden Knights (10-4-7), Shea Theodore, Braeden Bowman, and Tomas Hertl found the back of the net. Jack Eichel recorded two assists, and Akira Schmid stopped 28 shots. The result extended Vegas’ point streak to six games (3-0-3).
Theodore opened scoring for Vegas at 3:25 in the first period with a one-timer from just inside the blue line, taking advantage of a screen set by Bowman. Less than two minutes later, Bowman made it 2-0 after collecting a loose puck in front and scoring with his backhand—his fourth goal in six NHL games.
Anaheim responded quickly with two goals just 34 seconds apart to even things up. LaCombe narrowed the deficit at 7:43 after Beckett Sennecke’s breakaway was disrupted by Noah Hanifin; Sennecke recovered and passed to LaCombe for a one-timer from above the right circle. At 8:17, Zellweger tied it by firing a wrist shot into the top right corner off a rush.
Hertl put Vegas ahead again late in the first period with a power-play goal at 17:59 on a tip-in from near the crease. In the second period, Terry equalized once more for Anaheim at 13:50 by finishing off a pass from Leo Carlsson during a two-on-one opportunity.
Neither team scored in regulation after that point, setting up Gauthier’s overtime winner.
